However, the FAA's legal limit for both recreational and commercial drone flying is 400 feet above ground level. Military drones can fly far higher, with some models reaching up to 60,000 feet for strategic advantages.

While a standard consumer or commercial drone cannot fly at 60,000 feet, specialized military and research High-Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) drones are designed specifically for these "near-space" altitudes. Consumer drones, like those from DJI, are typically software-capped at 1,640 feet (500 meters) to comply with global aviation laws, and their physical ceiling is usually limited to about 20,000 feet due to the thin air providing less lift. However, military UAVs like the Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton or the RQ-4 Global Hawk regularly operate at 60,000 feet or higher for surveillance and intelligence gathering. At this altitude, they fly above commercial air traffic and weather patterns. In 2026, "solar-powered atmospheric satellites" (HAPS) are also being developed to fly at these heights for months at a time, serving as low-cost alternatives to traditional satellites. Flying any unauthorized drone at such heights is extremely illegal and poses a severe risk to high-altitude aircraft and national security.