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UC Drones Knowledge Portal

15 FCC Drone Regulations

In an unprecedented move, on December 22, 2025, the FCC declared that UAS and UAS critical component parts that are produced in foreign countries pose unacceptable risks to the national security of the United States and to the safety and security of U.S. persons, and should be included on the FCC’s Covered List.

  • FCC Press Release and Fact Sheet here
  • The updated FCC Covered List can be found here

New [foreign-made drones] are prohibited from receiving FCC authorization and are therefore prohibited from being imported for use or sale in the U.S. This update to the Covered List does not prohibit the import, sale, or use of any existing device models the FCC previously authorized.

This FCC action goes above and beyond the initial Section 1709 review that previously only targeted DJI and Autel. The final rule covers all foreign drones and components - not just those made in China, but all foreign countries including Canada, Switzerland, UK, and Germany. In addition, the updated definition for critical components now includes batteries and motors, in addition to the usual autopilots, controllers, and cameras.

In the months following, the FCC continued to make significant changes and announcements. We have moved this information and the relevant definitions to this new page to help people keep track.

The FCC has opened a handful of opportunities for the public to comment on their proposals. To date, the FCC’s response to the public on this matter and others have been to state “We disagree with the commenters.”

15.1 FCC Exemptions

The current list of FCC exemptions (Aug 18, 2026)

  1. UAS and UAS components on the DoD Blue List are allowed to receive updates and introduce new components for FCC authorization until January 1, 2028
  2. UAS and UAS components that qualify as `domestic end products’ under the Buy American Standard will continue to be eligible for FCC authorizations until January 1, 2028.
  3. Specific devices that have been granted a Conditional Approval by DoD or DHS
  4. Foreign-produces ‘toy drones’ and ‘toy drones’ that contain foreign-produced components

Full list of Conditional Approvals

Update - Jan 21, 2026

The FCC has issued a waiver of prohibitions on certain Class 1 permissive changes to covered UAS and UAS critical components until January 1, 2027. This means that drones with already existing FCC approval may continue to receive certain software and firmware updates at least until then. The FCC remarks that they would re-evaluate prior to Jan 1, 2027 on whether to extend the waiver further.

So for now, foreign-made drones can continue to issue updates, but may not at some point in the future.

15.2 Proposed Actions

15.2.1 DJI Petition For Reconsideration of Action in Proceeding - Jan 29, 2026 - Docket/RM 26-22

DJI has taken a number of actions to respond and get unbanned. You can follow along their progress in this formal docket. Link

15.2.2 FCC Docket to revoke FCC authorization from foreign ‘Military’ Drones - July 21, 2026 - Docket/RM 26-189

The FCC recently announced that they were proposing to remove FCC authorization to sell or market what they deem to be ‘military’ drones. Military drones in their definition includes drones over 55 lbs, drones with a LIDAR unit, and drones with a thermal imager. While certain DJI drones have been grandfathered in with existing FCC authorizations, this would remove them from being able to be sold in the US. The proposal would not ban their use - yet.

As an example, the DJI Matrice 4E received its FCC authorization before the ban, but if this new proposal is enacted, the FCC would remove its authorization to be sold in the US.

Comments to the FCC are due Sept 2, 2026

15.3 Definitions

15.3.1 Domestic End Product

A `domestic end product’ under the Buy America Standard is defined as

  1. The article must be manufactured in the United States; and
    1. Except for an end product that consists wholly or predominantly of iron or steel or a combination of both, the cost of domestic components shall exceed 60 percent of the cost of all the components, except that the percentage will be 65 percent for items delivered in calendar years 2024 through 2028 and 75 percent for items delivered starting in calendar year 2029…

15.3.2 Critical Components

UAS Critical Components: For the purpose of this determination, the term “UAS critical components” includes but is not limited to the following UAS components and any associated software:

  • Data transmission devices
  • Communications systems
  • Flight controllers
  • Ground control stations and UAS controllers
  • Navigation systems
  • Sensors and Cameras
  • Batteries and Battery Management Systems
  • Motors

15.3.3 Toy Drone

A ‘toy drone’ is a drone is defined as a drone that meets all of the below criteria:

  • Maximum Take-off Weight is equal to or less than 150 grams;
  • Operation is limited to line-of-sight operations equal to or less than 100 meters;
  • Maximum sustained altitude must be equal to or less than 300 feet;
  • No GPS/GNSS or equivalent system (e.g., no return-to-home, waypoint missions, or subject tracking);
  • No connectivity or network capability (e.g., no connection to Internet, mobile apps, cellular networks, Wi-Fi), but may include a dedicated radio-frequency link between controller and drone, typically on 2.4 GHz or 5.8 GHz bands;
    • Radio frequencies and WiFi Channels may not be modifiable or programmable and must conform to FCC regulatory requirements;
  • No imaging or sensing capabilities (e.g., no photo/video camera, microphones, live video feed, onboard recording, or sensors capable of surveillance or data gathering on the toy);
  • Flight time must be equal to or less than 10 minutes;
  • Maximum horizontal speed must be equal to or less than 10 meters/second;
  • Explicitly marketed as a toy for recreational use;
  • No modular payload interface, such as airdrop and release mechanisms, searchlights and strobes, and micro-FPV cameras and protection cages;
  • Does not contain brushless motors; and
  • Is not produced by an entity identified in Section 1709 of the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act

15.3.4 Military Drone (proposed)

The FCC proposes a new definition of ‘military-grade UAS and UAS critical components’ in DA-26-758 as:

  1. UAS that weigh 55 pounds or more on takeoff, i.e. UAS that are not “small unmanned aircraft” pursuant to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules.
  2. UAS capable of dispensing “economic poison” under FAA rules.
  3. UAS that contain or integrate sensors capable of thermal imaging (i.e. the capability to capture and translate the difference in temperature between objects, as well as an object’s heat signature and residual heat signature).
  4. UAS that contain or integrate sensors capable of Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), a “remote sensing technology that measures distance by illuminating a target with a laser and analyzing the reflected light.”
  5. UAS docking stations, defined as multipurpose systems that enable UAS to land safely, take off, recharge and/or replace batteries, and transfer data and payload.
  6. UAS “specially designed to incorporate a defense article.”
  7. Swarming UAS, defined as:
    • Ground control stations purpose-built for, or UAS integrated with flight control or vehicle management systems specially designed for, managing drone swarms, consisting of UAS that operate autonomously (without human intervention) to coordinate with each other, avoid collisions, maintain formations, and dynamically respond to changes in operational or threat environments, or if weaponized, synchronize targeting activities across multiple drones; or
    • UAS purpose-built to perform flights in coordinated and synchronized formations, including applications such as multi-UAS light shows, where numerous illuminated UAS work together to create synchronized aerial displays.

15.3.5 Power Inverters

The FCC added foreign-made Power Inverters to its covered list on July 28, 2026:

  • A bi-directional power device or system that converts direct current electricity to alternating current electricity, or converts alternating current electricity to direct current electricity, to include microinverters, string inverters, central inverters, and hybrid (battery-based) inverters; and
  • Contains components that enable remote communication, control, sensing, data-collection, or monitoring through Wi-Fi, cellular, Bluetooth, or other similar connections.

15.3.6 Advanced Robotic Devices (proposed)

The FCC added foreign-made ‘Advanced Robotic Devices’ to its covered list on July 28, 2026:

  • A mechanical mobile device, including autonomous mobile robots, humanoid robots, and quadrupeds, that -
    • Is capable of locomotion, obstacle avoidance, navigation, or movement on the ground;
    • Operates at a distance from a human operator or supervisor based on commands or in response to sensor data or any combination thereof; and
    • The combined weight of the device and, if applicable, ground station or docking station is over 4.4 lbs; and
    • Contains a component falling within each of the below sub-paragraphs:
      • a sensor capable of perceiving its environment;
      • a component that is capable of providing network connectivity (wired or wireless, including Bluetooth/WiFi, cellular, or satellite) with connection speeds of at least 200 kbps in either direction; and
      • software running either locally or remotely, including firmware and AI or machine-learning model weights, that controls the robot’s autonomous navigation or movement perception, data collection, or remote command-and-control; and
  • Does not include:
    • a ‘connected vehicle’ as that term is defined in 15 CFR § 791.301, but including a connected vehicle of any gross weight;
    • a vehicle operated only on a rail line;
    • an ‘uncrewed aircraft’ or ‘uncrewed aircraft system’ as defined in 47 CFR § 88.5
    • an unmanned underwater vehicle that is able to operate without a human occupant;
    • Items that are classified as devices under section 513 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. §360c), including surgical instruments, medical and surgical robotic systems, external limb protheses and their components, and ambulatory and mobility assistive devices (such as canes, crutches, walkers, and wheelchairs), whether or not powered, and whether the item was cleared under section 510(k), approved under section 515, classified under section 513(f)(2), or exempt from premarket notification; and
    • A fixed, stationary, non-mobile robot, including articulating, parallel/delta, Cartesian/gantry, or Selective Compliance Assembly, or Articulated, Robot Arm (SCARA) robots intended for industrial or medical use.

15.4 List of FCC Announcements

DA Date Subject
DA-25-1086 Dec 22, 2025 Adds UAS/Components to Covered List
DA-26-22 Jan 7, 2026 Exempts Blue UAS
DA-26-253 Mar 17, 2026 First Conditional Approvals
DA-26-351 Apr 14, 2026 sees.AI Conditional Approval
DA-26-437 May 6, 2026 Air6 System Conditional Approval
DA-26-489 May 15, 2026 Elevon Aerial AG Conditional Approval
DA-26-548 Jun 4, 2026 VEX AIR Conditional Approval
DA-26-585 Jun 12, 2026 L50 Conditional Approval
DA-26-588 Jun 15, 2026 Exempts ‘Toy Drones’
DA-26-616 Jun 22, 2026 HERA Tactical, Ceres Air Conditional Approval
DA-26-655 Jul 2, 2026 Exemptions for C-UAS
DA-26-742 Jul 17, 2026 Ban on Skyrover
DA-26-758 Jul 21, 2026 Proposal to ban ‘military’ drones
DA-26-761 Jul 21, 2026 Extends Conditional Approvals
DA-26-786 Jul 28, 2026 FCC bans Foreign Power Inverters and Robots
DA-26-832 Aug 10, 2026 Proposal to ban Anzu
DA-26-839 Aug 11, 2026 Revokes Odysey Robot