- Cameras
- Drones
Without FCC clearance, the HoverAir Aqua seems set to fall foul of the same US sales ban as DJI's upcoming drones
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: ZeroZero Robotics)
Share
Share by:
- Copy link
- X
- Threads
- The HoverAir Aqua is due to ship from February 2026
- FCC's rules on foreign-made drones changed on December 23, 2025
- Unapproved drones are effectively banned in US
At the tail end of last year, the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) added any foreign-made drone not already approved for sale to its "Covered List", essentially banning all such future drones from sale.
Despite being informally dubbed the "DJI ban" by much of the world, this ruling applies to any non-US drone maker – a troubling reality that Zero Zero Robotics may be attempting to negotiate right now.
The Chinese company was poised to start shipping its highly anticipated HoverAir Aqua drone in February 2026. For the unversed, the Aqua is a unique camera drone in that it's fully waterproof, and designed to autonomously fly alongside surfers, kayakers and water-skiers in order to capture their splashy escapades in a way that other drones just aren't cut out for.
You may like-
Don't worry, today's DJI ban doesn't mean your drone is grounded – at least not yet
-
DJI explains what its looming US ban means for your drones
-
Might DJI try and rush out its 360-degree drone ahead of a US ban?
The Aqua raised over $2 million from over 1800 backers through an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign, but as it does not currently appear on the FCC's list of approved devices, it seems destined to fall foul of the same rules which prohibit all future DJI drone releases for being sold in the US.
Being already approved for sale in the US, Zero Zero Robotics' existing range of drones, like the HoverAir X1, HoverAir X1 Pro and HoverAir X1 ProMax will remain in stores. But the fate of future launches, including the Aqua, is murky at best.
It's bad news for Zero Zero Robotics of course, but spare a thought for the hundreds of US-based backers of the HoverAir Aqua's Indiegogo campaign. They've already paid out money for a product they assumed they may get in December 2025 (the original targeted shipping date), only for it to be first delayed to February 2026 and then pitched into "possibly never" territory.
Raining on the Aqua's parade
At present, the prospect of backers receiving anything – even potentially a refund – seems distant. On January 8 2026, a Zero Zero Robotics rep posted the following comments on the Aqua's Indiegogo page:
Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inboxContact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over."Due to a sudden regulatory change in the United States, we have temporarily paused accepting new orders for shipment to U.S. addresses. We are actively exploring all compliance pathways and engaging in relevant communications. Once we have a clearer understanding and concrete conclusions, we will share them with you promptly. According to Indiegogo’s rules, backers cannot refund their orders once payment has been completed. If you need any assistance, please contact our support team at [email protected]. We’ll be happy to help!"
"Regarding the new FCC's rule and its impact on Aqua, we are actively exploring all compliance pathways and engaging in relevant communications. Please rest assured that we are committed to keeping you informed about any impacts on the US market and will continue to communicate and assess the situation closely. Once we have a clearer understanding and concrete conclusions, we will share them with you promptly."
HOVERAir AQUA: A new way to fly on the water - YouTube
Watch On
The FCC's rule does include an exception process whereby specific drone models can be determined to be risk-free and effectively cleared for import and sale. However, this needs to be done by the US Department of Defense or Department of Homeland Security, who might have bigger priorities than assessing and approving consumer drones for sale.
The HoverAir Aqua should still be launching in other territories, and we're keen to get our hands on a review sample as soon as possible.
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!
And of course you can also follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.
The best dronesTop flying camera picks, for all budgets
➡️ Read our full best drones guide1. Best overallDJI Mini 5 Pro2. Best budgetDJI Mini 4K3. Best professionalDJI Mavic 4 Pro4. Best for selfiesHoverAir X1 Pro
Sam KieldsenSocial Links NavigationSam has been writing about tech and digital culture for over 20 years, starting off in video games journalism before branching out into the wonderful worlds of consumer electronics, streaming entertainment and photography. Over the years he has written for Wired, Stuff, GQ, T3, Trusted Reviews and PC Zone, and now lives on the Kent coast in the UK – the ideal place for a camera reviewer to ply their trade.
Show More CommentsYou must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
Logout Read more
DJI explains what its looming US ban means for your drones
Might DJI try and rush out its 360-degree drone ahead of a US ban?
The best beginner drones for 2025
Fresh leaks for the DJI Osmo Pocket 4 and DJI Avata 360 have emerged
We may see the DJI Osmo Pocket 4 very soon, after this latest leak
The world's first 360-degree camera drone just got an on-sale date
Latest in Drones
DJI Avata 360 leak shows how it could beat Insta360 with one key upgrade
UK drone laws just changed — here’s how to get your Flier ID and Remote ID so you can get back in the air
A 360-degree drone and a power station show up in the latest DJI leak
Don't worry, today's DJI ban doesn't mean your drone is grounded – at least not yet
Watch 2,800 drones create the biggest ever game of Tetris in the sky
You can now talk to your DJI Neo or Flip drone from your Apple Watch
Latest in News
DJI isn't the only drone maker hit by new US laws – the world's first waterproof selfie drone could be next
Cloudflare and La Liga's conflict deepens as piracy legal battle continues
Nvidia’s next-generation RTX 60 series GPUs rumored to be on track to launch next year
Garmin's closest Apple Watch Ultra rival is getting a soft gold revamp
‘Gemini can't possibly be this stupid' – Google's smart home issues continue
Obsidian's Avowed is leaping from Xbox to PS5 next month
LATEST ARTICLES- 1Dell Pro Max 16 Plus mobile workstation review
- 2I waited two years to get a PlayStation Portal, and now wish I’d bought one sooner
- 3If your best ChatGPT replies keep getting lost, try this pin trick
- 4Record profits forecast for Samsung with dramatic increase in AI chip demand
- 5"Americans should be concerned" – digital rights experts respond to the US withdrawal from internet freedom organization