China

Export controls, the Shenzhen supply chain, and the geopolitics of the world’s drone-manufacturing superpower.

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Nov 11

Last updated

Pilot Institute

FCC Moves to Shut Out Chinese Labs, DroneSense Adds LAANC, DJI Dock 4

Greg Reverdiau: the FCC votes Oct. 29 to cut off Chinese test labs, DroneSense adds LAANC through Aloft, and DJI's Dock 4 swaps batteries in 25 seconds.

Greg ReverdiauOct 16

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr in a dark suit and purple tie speaking into a handheld microphone on stage, seated in a green chair in front of a row of American flags

FCC Filing

FCC Vote Would Shut Out Chinese Labs That Test 82% of US Devices

The FCC votes October 29 on ending recognition of every mainland China test lab by December 1, 2028. DJI's Osmo Pocket 4P was tested at one of them.

Haye KestelooOct 10

Two Amprius silicon-anode pouch cells on a red honeycomb-textured surface

Department of Defense

Amprius Gets $75M Pentagon Drone Battery Grant, Mostly Unfunded

Amprius will turn a U.S. EV battery line into a 12-million-cell drone factory. Its filing shows $22 million of the $75 million grant is funded so far.

Haye KestelooSep 30

Russia

Russia's Geran-4 Runs On A $25,000 Hobby Jet, Texas Instruments Chips

RFE/RL took apart a Geran-4 Seeker: a $25,000 Chinese hobby turbojet, two SIM cards, a mesh modem, Texas Instruments chips. Russia builds 3,000 a month.

Haye KestelooSep 28

Gray DJI Matrice 5TD prototype drone on asphalt with arms folded, a cylindrical antenna and dark dome on the top deck, and a multi-window gimbal

Leak

DJI Matrice 5TD Surfaces In China Filing, 750 g Heavier Than 4TD

A Chinese drone-registration entry names the DJI Matrice 5TD at 2.6 kg, and a leaked render prints the name. The dock drone gains 750 g on the Matrice 4TD.

Haye KestelooSep 27

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, seen across the water with a steam cloud billowing beside the pad

Counter-Drone

Space Force Adds Lasers at Cape Canaveral After 500 Port Drone Flights

Space Force is adding a directed-energy weapon at Cape Canaveral. Next door, Port Canaveral logged 500+ drone incursions in 2025, already a Florida felony.

Haye KestelooSep 26

Livox Mid-360L 3D LiDAR sensor, a black square housing topped by a dark hemispherical dome, sitting on a pale grey ledge

DJI

DJI Spinoff Livox Halves Point Rate to Cut Robot LiDAR Cost

Livox's Mid-360L halves the Mid-360's point rate and trades 15° of vertical view for a cheaper robot LiDAR. Livox has not published a price.

Haye KestelooSep 21

DJI Neo 3 retail box held next to a DJI Neo 2 display model on a store stand

DJI

DJI Neo 3 Box Lists Nine Items. The Neo 2's Transceiver Isn't One

New DJI Neo 3 box photos show a Fly More Combo with no Digital Transceiver and China's new Remote ID standards, shot beside a Neo 2 display in a store.

Haye KestelooSep 20

China

The drone industry moves fast. Stay ahead of it.