FAA Issues New NOTAM, Pentagon References Classified Intel on DJI, While DJI Unveils Lido Drone

FAA Replaces Controversial ICE NOTAM

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has published a new Flight Data Center Notice to Airmen (FDC NOTAM 6/2824), replacing the previously criticized ICE NOTAM (FDC 6/4375) that had been in effect since January 2026. The original NOTAM prohibited all drones from operating within 3,000 feet laterally and 1,000 feet vertically of any federal mobile asset, but it was not visible on any apps, complicating compliance for drone operators.

The updated NOTAM eliminates the strict distance requirements, removes the national defense airspace classification, and changes the language from “prohibited” to “advised.” Additionally, it includes the Department of Justice (DOJ) among the agencies covered by the regulation and adopts terminology from the Department of War, reflecting a rebranding of the Department of Defense under the previous administration.

Under the new guidelines, accidental proximity to federal assets will no longer be treated as an automatic federal offense. However, federal agencies maintain the authority to counter unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) that are deemed credible threats. An excerpt from the NOTAM states:

“DOW, DOE, DOJ, or DHS may take action that results in the interference, disruption, seizure, damaging, or destruction of unmanned aircraft deemed to pose a credible safety or security threat to covered mobile assets.”

This language indicates that both safety and security threats are considered, leaving room for interpretation and potential enforcement challenges.

Pentagon Opposes DJI’s FCC Petition

The Department of Defense has submitted a memo to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) opposing DJI’s petition to be removed from the agency’s covered list. The Pentagon’s stance is based on national security concerns, supported by both classified and unclassified intelligence. A classified document was also submitted to Congress on April 3rd.

DJI is currently engaged in multiple legal battles, including a Ninth Circuit petition and a DC Circuit appeal. The presence of classified intelligence complicates DJI’s ability to mount a defense, as they cannot access the evidence against them.

In the meantime, the FCC is advancing new regulations to promote domestic drone manufacturing as part of the Unleashing American Drone Dominance Initiative. Recently, the agency granted conditional approvals to four non-Chinese drone systems, all of which are enterprise models. The lack of a domestic alternative for consumer drones, such as the DJI Mini or Air series, remains a significant concern.

FAA Authorizes Military Use of Anti-Drone Lasers

The FAA has granted the US military permission to deploy high-energy anti-drone lasers in US airspace. This decision follows a two-month period during which commercial flights were suspended over the Texas-Mexico border due to incidents involving these lasers.

In February, Customs and Border Protection utilized a Pentagon-owned laser to intercept what were later identified as metallic balloons, prompting the FAA to close airspace within a 10-nautical-mile radius of El Paso. The White House intervened to lift the airspace shutdown.

Another incident occurred on February 26th, when military personnel mistakenly targeted a drone belonging to Customs and Border Protection, resulting in the loss of a drone valued at approximately $30 million.

Following these events, the FAA and Pentagon conducted a live test at the White Sands Missile Range. During the test, a commercial aircraft entered the laser’s tracking angle, triggering an automatic safety shutoff that prevented the laser from firing. This successful safety feature led the FAA to conclude that the lasers do not pose an increased risk to public safety.

Drone operators near the southern border are advised to remain vigilant, as the FAA will be issuing advisories regarding increased anti-drone laser activity.

DJI Teases New Lido Drone Launch

DJI has officially announced a new drone launch scheduled for April 23rd, teasing the product under the name “Lido” with the tagline “Just Fly.” The announcement includes hashtags for DJI Lido and Lido X1.

Rumored specifications suggest that two models will be introduced, potentially replacing the Mini series as DJI’s entry-level offering. The Lido 1 is expected to weigh under 250 grams and feature 22 GB of internal storage. The higher-end Lido X1 is rumored to have 42 GB of storage.

Both models are anticipated to support multi-band connectivity across 2.4, 5.2, and 5.8 GHz, as well as Wi-Fi 6. Flight times are projected to be around 30 minutes with the standard battery and up to 50 minutes with a heavier Plus battery, which would increase the drone’s weight beyond 250 grams.

The Lido X1’s FCC filing also mentions an SDR transmission to receiver, raising speculation about its transmission performance. If these specifications are accurate, the Lido 1 could compete with the current DJI Mini 4K, while the Lido X1 may rival the Mini 5 Pro.

Discussion and Community Engagement

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There will be no live Q&A session this Monday. Attendees of the Sun ‘n Fun air show are encouraged to visit the event over the weekend.