DJI, the world’s pre-eminent manufacturer of unmanned aerial vehicles, has initiated formal legal proceedings against the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC), alleging that a recent prohibition on its technology is “procedurally and substantively flawed”.
In a petition submitted to the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, the Shenzhen-based corporation contends that the regulator failed to provide any credible evidence of national security risks before designating the firm a “covered entity” in December. The classification effectively forestalls the authorisation of all future DJI models for sale within the United States, threatening the company’s hegemony in a market where it accounts for upwards of 70% of the consumer and commercial sectors.
The litigation represents a significant intensification of the ongoing technological decoupling between Washington and Beijing. DJI argues that the FCC’s determination violated both constitutional due process and federal law by denying the company a meaningful opportunity to contest the allegations.
“Despite exhaustive efforts to engage with the relevant authorities, DJI has been afforded no opportunity to scrutinise or refute the purported security concerns,” the company said in a statement issued on Tuesday. It further asserted that the restrictions “indiscriminately” deprive American consumers of sophisticated flight technology, with implications ranging from hobbyist use to critical applications in emergency services and the agricultural sector.
The ban, which took effect on 23 December 2025, followed an expansive revision of FCC protocols targeting foreign-manufactured telecommunications equipment. While the regulations are not retroactive—allowing existing owners of models such as the Mini 4 Pro to continue operations—the moratorium on new approvals prevents DJI from introducing any subsequent hardware to the American market.
Legal observers suggest the crux of the case may lie in whether the FCC adhered to the mandates of the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act, which required a formal security audit of the manufacturer. DJI strenuously maintains that no such audit was ever conducted.
The company is currently engaged in several parallel legal disputes in the US. It is simultaneously appealing against a Pentagon designation that characterised it as a “Chinese military company”, a status DJI has repeatedly rejected, insisting it remains a private enterprise with no institutional ties to the People’s Liberation Army.
The FCC’s “covered list” already includes several prominent Chinese entities, including Huawei and ZTE. US officials have long articulated fears that DJI hardware could facilitate clandestine surveillance or compromise critical infrastructure—concerns that have spurred a “Buy American” initiative within federal agencies.
However, the ban has drawn criticism from domestic industries. Thousands of commercial operators and agricultural firms have reportedly begun stockpiling components, warning that Western alternatives are frequently more costly and lack the technical sophistication of their Chinese counterparts.
A spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, Lin Jian, remarked that Beijing “firmly opposes” the US “overstretching the concept of national security” as a pretext to suppress Chinese commercial interests.
The litigation is expected to be a protracted affair, although DJI is widely anticipated to seek an interlocutory injunction to suspend the ban while the court considers the merits of the case.
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