New models of DJI drones — the world’s most popular consumer drone — could be barred from the U.S. market as soon as 2025. The Pentagon in 2022 classified DJI as a Chinese military company, prohibiting procurements by the U.S. military.
Several states have already stepped in to halt the sale of the Chinese drones to local law enforcement — including Florida, Mississippi and Tennessee.
But legislation recently pegged to the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) would ban the Federal Communications Commission from issuing licenses to DJI — a move that could end sales of all new models in the United States.
“We definitely would use Anzu if our lawmakers foolishly forced us into doing so,” said Kyle Nordfors, drone search-and-rescue coordinator for Weber County, Utah, where local law enforcement relies on DJI drones for everything from SWAT team operations to searching for lost hikers.
Nordfors is a strong opponent of legislation that would ban DJI drones. “American lives will be lost because of it,” he said.
“I’ve yet to meet a public safety agency that is in favor of it.”
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