FCC Proposes Sales Ban on Military-Grade Foreign Drones to Revamp Drone Supply Chain

FCC Seeks Public Comment on Foreign Drone Restrictions

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is advancing its initiative to reshape the U.S. drone market. On Tuesday, the agency announced it is seeking public input on the potential prohibition of the import, marketing, or sale of certain categories of foreign-produced military-grade drones listed on the FCC’s Covered List.

Simultaneously, the FCC has extended key exemptions for trusted drone manufacturers, providing companies focused on U.S.-based production with increased certainty as they invest in domestic manufacturing.

These actions indicate a shift in the FCC’s strategy, moving beyond merely restricting foreign-produced drones to establishing long-term regulatory pathways for manufacturers that comply with U.S. security and supply chain standards.

Expansion of FCC’s Regulatory Role

This proposal represents a potential broadening of the FCC’s regulatory authority over drones. In December, following a national security assessment, the FCC added certain foreign-produced uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) and critical components to its Covered List, effectively barring new models from receiving FCC equipment authorization and entering the U.S. market.

The new Public Notice seeks input on whether the Commission should further prohibit the importation, marketing, or sale of specific categories of covered foreign-produced military-grade drones intended for non-federal users. This proposal would not impact drones already owned by customers or those purchased for federal government use or commercial testing and product development.

The FCC is also soliciting comments on whether the prohibition should extend to categories of drones identified by the U.S. government as posing heightened national security risks. These include:

• Swarming drones
• Systems designed to integrate defense articles
• Thermal imaging drones
• LiDAR-equipped drones
• Aerosol-dispensing drones
• Drone docking stations
• Drones weighing 55 pounds or more

Comments on this proposal will be accepted for 30 days following its publication in the Federal Register.

Support for Trusted Manufacturers

While the proposed restrictions have garnered significant attention, the FCC also announced measures aimed at providing greater stability for manufacturers pursuing trusted supply chains. Following a determination by the Department of War (DoW), the FCC has extended exemptions until January 1, 2028, for:

• UAS and components included on the DoW Blue UAS List
• Systems meeting the Buy America threshold of at least 65% U.S. component value

Additionally, the Commission has permanently removed the expiration date for drones and components that have received DoW Conditional Approval, ensuring these products will not face future restrictions based solely on an arbitrary deadline. This change replaces a previous expiration date of January 1, 2027.

These extensions provide manufacturers investing in domestic production or pursuing Blue UAS or Conditional Approval status with increased certainty for long-term manufacturing and investment decisions.

Strengthening Domestic Drone Manufacturing

The FCC stated that these actions are part of broader efforts to bolster domestic drone manufacturing while addressing national security concerns associated with foreign-produced systems. Since the initiation of the Covered List actions last December, over $4 billion has been invested in U.S.-based drone and related manufacturing. The FCC noted the expansion of domestic manufacturing facilities and the creation of new jobs as indicators of the policy’s effectiveness in encouraging investment in American production.

In conjunction with these efforts, the FCC is pursuing its “Drone Dominance” initiative, which aims to streamline regulations, modernize spectrum policy, and support expanded commercial drone operations.

Recent FCC Actions on Drone Regulation

Tuesday’s announcement follows several recent FCC actions concerning drones. According to the agency’s fact sheet:

• The Commission initiated revocation proceedings against Odyssey Robot, alleging the company falsely claimed its drone was produced in the United States to obtain FCC equipment authorization.
• Last week, the FCC sought comments on whether to prohibit the import, marketing, or sale of certain covered equipment, including foreign-produced drones from specific companies.
• Earlier this month, the Commission released guidance to assist state, local, Tribal, and territorial agencies in implementing authorities provided under the SAFER SKIES Act for counter-drone operations.

If adopted following the public comment process, the latest proposal would mark a significant step in the federal government’s ongoing efforts to transition the U.S. drone market toward trusted domestic and allied supply chains while further limiting the commercial availability of higher-risk foreign-produced systems.