On July 21, 2026, a US government agency called the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced a plan to stop certain drones from being imported into the United States. The drones in question have two specific features: the ability to fly in coordinated groups (called "swarming") and special cameras that can detect heat, known as infrared thermal imaging. The plan targets two Chinese drone makers in particular: DJI and Autel Robotics. Al Jazeera

Swarming means many drones can work together as a team, communicating with each other to overwhelm defenses or keep watch over an area for long periods. Thermal imaging cameras can see people, vehicles, or equipment by the heat they give off, even in total darkness or through smoke. FCC, DA 26-758

The FCC said it wants to "secure the drone supply chain" and prevent sensitive information from being accessed by foreign governments. Al Jazeera

Drone parts made outside of China would be exempt from the ban. This exemption was first introduced in December 2025 and has been extended until January 2028. Al Jazeera; Reuters

This is not the FCC's first move against foreign drones. In December 2025, the agency blocked all new models of foreign-made drones and key parts. Since then, it has made several adjustments. In January 2026, some new foreign drone models were exempted through the end of 2026. In March 2026, four specific foreign drones were allowed in. In June 2026, Chinese toy drones were taken off the ban list. In May 2026, the FCC said Chinese drones and routers (devices that direct internet traffic) already in use could keep getting software updates through 2028. The FCC also banned new models of Chinese routers. Reuters; Reuters; Reuters

The drone restrictions are part of a bigger picture. In 2019, President Trump signed a law called the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act, which set up rules for identifying technology that could threaten national security. In 2022, the FCC banned equipment from two Chinese companies, Huawei and ZTE, citing security risks. The FCC also maintains a webpage called "Promoting National Security" that collects all its related rules and announcements. Al Jazeera; FCC; FCC

The broader context here is that the US has been steadily tightening its grip on Chinese technology, moving from telecom equipment like phone networks to consumer and commercial drones. The January 2028 deadline for non-Chinese parts gives companies about 18 months to adjust their supply chains if they can move away from Chinese components. Companies that rely heavily on Chinese parts face a cutoff.

For commercial drone operators in the US, the details matter. A drone without swarming or heat-sensing features might still face restrictions under earlier rules, but this latest proposal focuses on specific technologies rather than just where a drone was made. The decision to allow software updates for drones already in use through 2028 suggests the FCC is trying to phase things out gradually rather than cutting people off overnight.

The plan is not final yet. The FCC's July 2026 announcement is a proposal, not a finished rule, and the agency has changed course several times in this process already. The exemptions for toy drones, the four foreign models allowed in, and the extended software-update deadline all came after broader restrictions were first proposed. Whether the bans on swarming and thermal imaging drones stay as written or get narrowed down will depend on public feedback and review by other government agencies.