FCC has updated the Covered List to not include Blue sUAS and American made sUAS

[jaja6009]

This just came out today from the FCC.

These drones are now cleared : Defense Contract ManagementAgency’s (DCMA’s) Blue UAS Cleared List; ando UAS and UAS critical components that qualify as “domestic end products”under the Buy American Standard

https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-22A1.pdf

https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-updates-covered-list-exempt-certain-drones-and-releases-faqs

 

[mavic3usa]

Wow, there are a lot of clarifications and questions directly answered in the FAQ which should have been published along with the decree on December 22, 2025. Nevertheless, it's a good update.

Uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) and UAS critical components produced in a foreign country††—except, until January 1, 2027, (a) UAS and UAS critical components included on the Defense Contract Management Agency’s (DCMA’s) Blue UAS Cleared List, and (b) UAS critical components that qualify as “domestic end products” under the Buy American Standard, 48 CFR 25.101(a)—and all communications and video surveillance equipment and services listed in Section 1709(a)(1) of the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act (Pub. L. 118-159).

December 22, 2025 Updated: January 7, 2026

 

[Riptide]

https://www.fcc.gov/covered-list-faqs-uas-and-uas-critical-components

 

[mavic3usa]

https://www.fcc.gov/covered-list-faqs-uas-and-uas-critical-components

These two FAQs together set the stage for bigger discussion (still leaves an open question):

Some of the UAS critical components (for instance, batteries) traditionally do not even require FCC equipment authorization. Do they now?​

• No device now requires FCC equipment authorization that did not already require FCC equipment authorization.
• Generic batteries and similar components are unlikely to have required FCC equipment authorization before, and therefore would not newly require FCC authorization.
• According to the recent guidance, all entities seeking a waiver for a UAS will be required to establish an onshoring plan for the manufacturing of all UAS critical components, including components that do not require FCC authorization.
• If you have questions about whether your device requires FCC equipment authorization, please see: https://www.fcc.gov/engineering-technology/laboratory-division/general/equipment-authorization.

If someone buys a covered UAS or UAS critical component outside the U.S., can they operate it in the U.S.?​

• As noted above, there is no direct restriction on the operation of “covered” UAS or UAS critical components that have already received FCC equipment authorization.
• For “covered” UAS or UAS critical components that have not received FCC equipment authorization, the general answer is “no.”

 

[High_Order1]

The thing I saw in the other thread from reuters is that if you buy a new one out of country, you can't fly it here.

How are they going to enforce that?

 

[mavic3usa]

The thing I saw in the other thread from reuters is that if you buy a new one out of country, you can't fly it here.

How are they going to enforce that?

As with most any electronics, whether it's a drone or a computer or a radio, if it doesn't have FCC certification, it is not legal to use or operate in the US. There is nothing to actually stopping you from using it but you could be in serious trouble if you are caught. For a drone, most will required FAA registration before you can fly anywhere in the US NAS and it is impossible to register a drone that doesn't have FCC. So you would be flying an unregistered drone (yes even a sub-250g drone without FCC would require registration) and there are probably a host of other laws you would be breaking including some of those serious import laws that refer to importing licenses and customs declarations, etc. It simply isn't worth it just to fly a Mini 6 Pro or a Mavic 5 Pro and honestly, the government is aware they can't exactly "stop" you so that's why I believe they will take further action than what we've seen so far to make sure people don't just buy drones on eBay and fly them anyway. They have so many options and they have a "playbook" for this kind of thing, it's not new to drones.

 

[Dave Pitman]

"The FCC updated the Covered List following a thorough review by a White House-convened Executive Branch interagency body with appropriate national security expertise, which made a specific determination 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."

Prove it!

The current admin dismisses science at every turn and breaks domestic and international law at a whim. In turn, they can't expect to get much respect to their orders.

With all of this political maneuvering, they are absolutely going to destroy all of the good will drone regulation they have started in the past. Most of this type of regulation, including airspace and the FAA (even manned aviation), is only achievable because the majority of the population affected by such laws want to do the right thing. Not because they will get caught if they don't.
When that population determines that a law is, at it's core, unfair, or not backed by reason, then that law will be ignored.

Yes, there can be penalties if you are caught. But, in general, no one is out there enforcing them. That's exactly why it's important that the users "want" to follow the rules. When the users no longer believe the rules are fair and backed by good reason, then most will choose to ignore them. Likely, the only time someone will "get caught" will be if some incident happens. Just as is the case now.

The new norm will likely be, ignore the rules and don't cause an incident. It's too bad, really.