In Britain kids can buy these drones, but the US government is threatening to call five of them "military" and take them off the shelves. Why?

Several DJI drone models, which are currently legal in the USA despite the ban on new drones, could now be removed from the shelves because the FCC now considers the collision sensors to be "military tech."

Specifically, this affects all drones that use LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) sensors, which is used to measure distances in 3D space. (It is the same visual tech that the iPhone uses for facial recognition – though no one is calling that military just yet).

If the ban comes into effect on the proposed date, Jan 30 2027 (180 days after the rule was proposed), then retailers will not even be able to sell their remaining stock. Only drones already owned will be considered "authorised units," and their owners will be able to keep using them.

DJI has commented on the ban through its ViewPoints, saying "DJI does not design or manufacture military-grade equipment, nor has it marketed or sold its products for military use. DJI develops technology for commercial, agricultural, recreational, and public safety applications, and has consistently opposed the weaponization of civilian drones."

There is a tone of frustration as it goes on to note "the FCC's proposed definition is broad enough to capture many of the civilian drones Americans rely on every day."

The real reason for this, coming on top of the previous addition of DJI to the 'covered list' in December 2025, is because of a trade war with China.

Photographers and creators are essentially collateral damage, with the US government keen to add tariffs on products in the hope a domestic American industry will rise up and compete with DJI and other Chinese companies. It is more concerned about military applications than accessibly priced drones for photography, however, and not worried about leaving people waiting the many years it would take for the US to have anything equivalent.

I spoke to a few representatives of US companies at last week's Drone X show, and there was little interest in the consumer market anyway. But the trade ban affects DJI nonetheless.

There are clearly a number of more advanced models from DJI at more reasonable prices, so it might be time for hobbyists and operators to take a look at their needs before the January deadline.

If you do want to snap up one of these drones sooner rather than later, I've put together a list of the best deals below (many are also on my best camera drones guide).

Experience suggests they will still be well supported for some time (spare parts, software updates and the like), but it'd be sad if you weren't able to get LiDAR and other features the rest of the world takes for granted because of a badly written trade ban designed to target a different market altogether.