HoverAir, a Chinese drone maker, is attempting to circumvent the U.S. government's December 2025 ban on foreign drones by marketing its $750 Versa as a camera equipped with optional propeller attachments. On August 9, the FCC approved the device. This week the company launched it on Indiegogo, marketing the propellers as optional accessories that extend the camera's capabilities. This strategy carries significant commercial implications if the reclassification holds. It could set a precedent. Foreign drone makers could continue selling to the U.S. market despite import restrictions intended to address national security.
Foreign manufacturers face a compliance barrier under the FCC's ban, which requires them to prove their products don't pose national security threats. According to The Verge, HoverAir exploits a regulatory gap by submitting only the camera for certification, claiming its propeller wings, which connect via copper contacts rather than wireless connections, need no separate approval. Since the propellers lack their own radio, the company argues it doesn't need FCC submission under current requirements. It classifies them as mechanical accessories.
However, the regulatory reclassification may not survive FCC scrutiny. Beyond drones, the FCC's ban covers UAS critical components such as cameras. According to The Verge, the FCC can revisit its decision within 30 days, and with the certification only weeks old, the agency could reclassify the Versa as a restricted component subject to the foreign drone ban.
HoverAir previously demonstrated regulatory compliance by offering refunds for its Aqua drone model when that device became subject to the ban. On Indiegogo, the company sells the Versa camera as a standalone device, though only 12 backers have chosen that configuration.