Drone News Roundup: DJI Ban Is 3 Weeks Away, DJI Files 360 Drone with FCC, and More!
BY Zacc Dukowitz
3 December 2025This week we’re covering questions about the impending DJI ban, which is set to be automatically triggered on December 23.
We’re also covering the DJI Avata 360 clearing the FCC ahead of launch, how the nonprofit SHARK uses drones to fight animal cruelty, Zipline’s $150 million State Department contract to expand work in Africa, and SkyPixel opening submissions with $200,000 in prizes.
Now let’s get to those links!
What Will a DJI Ban Mean? Your Questions Answered
A DJI ban is less than three weeks away. To be specific, a ban on the U.S. import and sales of DJI products is scheduled to automatically take effect on December 23, 2025 unless a national-security audit is completed. This requirement was included in the 2025 NDAA. DJI says it has requested the audit but none has been performed, making the ban look likely.
Here are answers to questions drone pilots are asking right now:
- Will my DJI drone stop working? No. Existing DJI drones won’t be remotely disabled by the ban. If you have a DJI drone, you’ll be able to keep flying it.
- What actually happens on Dec. 23? The FCC can block new DJI radios from being imported or sold in the U.S., affecting new imports and new device authorizations.
- Is there anything pilots can do right now to influence the outcome? Yes. Share concrete impact statements with elected officials (district House member + both Senators), especially if you’re a small business, public-safety unit, school, or utility that would be affected. Get specific guidance on how to contact your representatives here.
- If the ban goes into effect, can I still buy new DJI drones after Dec. 23? Expect availability to become more and more limited. Retailers can sell existing stock for now, but new imports could be restricted if the ban takes effect.
- What about updates, repairs, and parts? DJI says it intends to support existing users. However, software updates and future hardware availability are uncertain if the ban proceeds. At a minimum, you should plan for potential delays and limits to support.
- Will this ban affect “DJI clones,” or shell brands? If a ban targets DJI, it would not automatically cover every other brand. However, U.S. designations increasingly extend to affiliates, subsidiaries, and re-brands to prevent circumvention—so “clones” or shell labels tied to DJI could be swept in.
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DJI Avata 360 Clears FCC Ahead of Launch
A leaked photo of the DJI Avata 360 | Credit: Igor Bogdanov of @Quadro_News
DJI’s first 360 consumer drone—the Avata 360—recently appeared in an FCC filing, a strong signal that a U.S. launch is near. Reports based on the filing point to a design that can capture true 360° video and switch into a forward FPV mode. Leaked specs for the drone include dual 1/1.1″ sensors and 8K 360 capture. If DJI hurries, it can launch just ahead of the December 23 ban deadline. Once launched, the Avata 360 will be the second ever native 360 drone made. This week Insta360’s new drone company Antigravity launched the first native 360 drone, the A1, accelerating its launch to beat DJI to market.
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How SHARK Uses Drones to Fight Animal Cruelty
Drone photo of an illegal cockfighting operation | Credit: SHARK
In a new drones-for-good story, nonprofit Showing Animals Respect & Kindness (SHARK) uses drones to document animal abuse that’s typically hidden behind fences, like cockfights, live-pigeon shoots, and more. After collecting evidence, SHARK pushes its documentation to authorities and the public. The group credits years of aerial documentation with helping halt cruel events, including Chesapeake Bay cownose ray kills, and even spurring a 2022 investigation that rescued 4,000 beagles from a Virginia breeding facility. The group flies everything from DJI Minis to a Matrice 400, keeping pilots Part 107-certified and making sure to follow the law while helping protect vulnerable animals.
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Zipline Wins Up to $150 Million to Scale Medical Drone Deliveries in Africa
Credit: Zipline
In a big development for medical drone delivery, the U.S. State Department has agreed to provide up to $150 million to Zipline to expand on-demand delivery of blood, vaccines, and other medical supplies in Africa. The expansion will take place across five countries—Rwanda, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, and Côte d’Ivoire—building out drone hubs and logistics infrastructure in partnership with national health systems. The performance-based agreement aims to accelerate 24/7 access to essential medicines using Zipline’s autonomous aircraft and AI-driven routing at national scale.
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SkyPixel Opens Submissions—Over $200,000 in Prizes
DJI and SkyPixel have opened the 11th Annual Photo & Video Contest for submissions, inviting creators to “Frame the World” for a prize pool topping $200,000 across 50+ awards. You can submit your aerial photos and videos now through March 10, 2026, with winners announced on April 27, 2026. Contest entries can include aerial and handheld work (see rules for minimum DJI-shot footage in video categories). $200K is the largest SkyPixel prize pot yet, with top awards including flagship DJI kits and a SkyPixel Creator contract.
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