The December 23rd DJI Ban: What It Means, Who It Affects, and How SkyFleet Solutions is Prepared

Devin
Dec 5, 2025
3 min read

The drone industry has been buzzing with questions about the upcoming December 23rd DJI ban and what it will mean for companies relying on DJI platforms for surveying, mapping, inspections, and aerial data collection. At SkyFleet Solutions, we’ve received a surge of messages from engineers, surveyors, and utility partners asking what this change actually means, and whether DJI drones will still be usable on their projects.

This post breaks down the ban in simple terms, explains which projects may still allow DJI, and shows how SkyFleet Solutions is already fully prepared with a drone platform we built ourselves that is 100% NDAA-compliant.

What is the DJI Ban and Why is it Happening?

Under the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the U.S. government is requiring a formal security review of foreign-manufactured drone components, including DJI aircraft, cameras, radios, and data-transmission systems.

If this security review is not completed by December 23rd, DJI will be added to the FCC’s “Covered List.” Once added, DJI equipment becomes restricted for:

Federal government agencies
Federally funded programs
Critical infrastructure projects
Contractors who must follow NDAA or supply chain security rules

This does not instantly “ground” all DJI drones, but it does limit where they can be used and may restrict future updates, parts, or imports.

Can You Still Use DJI Drones After December 23rd?

Yes, in many cases. Despite the headlines, DJI drones are not banned for all uses.

Here are the project types where DJI may still be allowed:

1. Private Commercial Work

Projects funded entirely by private companies can typically continue using DJI equipment, unless the client specifies NDAA compliance.

2. Agriculture, Real Estate, and Marketing Flights

If these jobs do not involve restricted infrastructure or government data, DJI remains usable.

3. Ongoing Projects Started Before the Ban

If a project was scoped before the compliance requirement changed, DJI may still be acceptable during the transition period.

4. Any Contract That Does Not Require NDAA Compliance

If the contract does not include federal funding, supply-chain security requirements, or critical infrastructure restrictions, using DJI is still fine.

When DJI Cannot Be Used

Going forward, DJI will likely be prohibited on:

Federal or state government contracts
DOT, utility, and public-works projects
Critical infrastructure inspections
Projects requiring secure data handling
Any work requiring NDAA or Blue-UAS compliant equipment

This includes many engineering, telecom, utility, pipeline, transportation, disaster response, and government-funded surveying projects.

How SkyFleet Solutions Is Prepared: Our NDAA-Compliant Drone

At SkyFleet, we took action well before the deadline. We built our own NDAA-compliant drone platform, allowing us to serve both commercial clients and government or infrastructure clients without interruption.

Our NDAA-Compliant Drone Includes:

A fully compliant flight controller and avionics
Secure radio and communication modules
Approved GNSS/GPS systems
No prohibited foreign components
LiDAR and photogrammetry sensors that meet NDAA requirements

Because this platform is built in-house, we can document the entire supply chain something

many agencies now require.

For Clients, This Means:

No delays on government or infrastructure projects
No compliance issues
No risk of needing to re-fly sites in the future
Continued accuracy and deliverables identical to our DJI-based workflows

We will still use DJI equipment on projects where it is allowed, but for any job requiring compliance, SkyFleet already has a dedicated NDAA-approved aircraft ready to deploy.

Final Thoughts

The drone industry is changing fast, and the December 23rd DJI ban is a major shift but not a disaster. For many projects, DJI will remain usable. For government and infrastructure work, NDAA compliance will become the standard.

SkyFleet Solutions is already positioned on both sides of that line.

If you have questions about how the ban affects your projects or want to schedule time to talk through NDAA compliant surveying options feel free to reach out to us anytime.

SkyFleet Solutions Delivering secure, accurate, compliant aerial data across the USA.