DJI on the FCC Covered List: What It Actually Means for Your Drone Purchase

If you're a U.S. grower, custom applicator, or ag service provider weighing a new spray drone purchase, you've probably heard the headlines: the FCC has added DJI to its "Covered List." Calls have been coming into our Riverside office asking the same question: is it still safe to buy a DJI Agras drone in 2026?

At Talos Drones, one of our core values is transparency. So instead of selling around the issue, we want to lay out exactly what happened, what it changes for you, and why the DJI Agras T100 and DJI Matrice 4T remain two of the smartest aerial-application investments on the market today.

What the FCC Covered List Decision Actually Says

In December, the Federal Communications Commission added DJI to its Covered List under the Secure Equipment Act. In plain English, that designation limits the FCC's ability to authorize new DJI products for sale in the United States while the matter is being reviewed. DJI has publicly disagreed with the decision and filed suit to challenge it.

Here's the part that matters for anyone shopping a sprayer drone right now: the Covered List does not retroactively affect equipment that already holds FCC authorization. Drones that were certified before the listing, including the DJI Agras T100 and the Matrice 4T, remain fully legal to sell, fly, and support in the United States.

Straight from DJI: A Letter to Authorized Dealers

As an authorized DJI partner, Talos Drones recently received a direct communication from the DJI Agriculture Team addressing exactly this issue. The letter confirms what we've been telling customers on the phone:

The letter goes on to make two commitments that should matter to anyone considering a five-figure equipment purchase:

• Existing, FCC-authorized products are not impacted. Customers can keep flying the DJI Agriculture drones currently sold in the U.S. market, and DJI will continue supplying parts and accessories for them.
• After-sales support continues and is expanding. DJI and its authorized dealers, Talos Drones included, will keep supporting all current FCC-authorized models. Dealers have a direct escalation channel to DJI's support team for any after-sales issues.

If you'd like to see the letter for yourself, we're happy to share a copy. Just reach out to our team.

Why the DJI Agras T100 Is Still a Strong Buy in 2026

The DJI Agras T100 is the most capable spray-and-spread platform DJI has ever shipped to the U.S. market. It carries a heavier payload than its predecessors, scans terrain in real time with active phased-array radar, and pairs with DJI's mature flight planning ecosystem that operators already know how to use.

For growers running large acreage in California's Central Valley or doing custom application across multiple counties, the T100 is built to push through long days. And because it predates the Covered List action, it carries the FCC authorization needed to operate legally in U.S. airspace.

What about parts, training, and warranty?

This is where buying through a U.S.-based authorized dealer matters more than ever. When you purchase a DJI Agras through Talos Drones, you get:

• Genuine DJI parts inventoried domestically, shipped from our Riverside facility
• Hands-on operator training and FAA Part 137 compliance guidance
• Direct dealer access to DJI's escalation channels for any warranty issue
• Local service and repair support from a team that flies these aircraft daily

Why the DJI Matrice 4T Belongs on Your Radar

If your operation needs scouting, mapping, and inspection capability alongside spraying, the DJI Matrice 4T is a workhorse. Thermal imaging, a long-range zoom camera, and laser rangefinding make it the right tool for crop scouting, irrigation diagnostics, livestock monitoring, and infrastructure inspection, all from one airframe.

Like the T100, the Matrice 4T is FCC-authorized and fully covered by DJI's continued U.S. support commitment. Pair it with a T100 in the same fleet and you've got a complete aerial intelligence and application stack.

Talos Drones' Commitment to DJI Customers

We sell more than one platform. Our own Talos T60X is built and warrantied right here in Riverside, and we also distribute alternative platforms for operators who want them. But we are also a fully authorized DJI dealer, and we believe in giving growers honest options, not pushing them toward a single brand.

For customers who choose DJI, our promise is simple: as long as DJI continues to support U.S. customers, and their letter to us makes clear they intend to, Talos Drones will be here to sell, service, and stand behind every Agras and Matrice we deliver.

What if the regulatory landscape shifts again?

It might. The DJI lawsuit is moving through the courts, and Congress continues to debate drone-related legislation. We watch this closely so you don't have to. If anything changes that affects our customers' ability to operate, you'll hear it from us first, clearly and without spin.

And for operators who want a fully U.S.-built alternative as part of their fleet planning, the Talos T60X is always on the table. Compare platforms here.

Sources: Direct correspondence from the DJI Agriculture Team to authorized dealers, including Talos Drones; FCC public notices regarding the Secure Equipment Act Covered List. This article is for informational purposes and reflects the regulatory landscape as of the publish date.