FCC UAS Covered List:
What Operators Need to Know
Updated January 7, 2026
The Bottom Line
Foreign-produced drones and critical components are now banned from receiving new FCC equipment authorizations—blocking import and sale of new devices. Two categories are exempt until January 1, 2027: platforms on the Blue UAS Cleared List, and products meeting the Buy American Standard (65%+ domestic content, manufactured in USA).
Allowed
- Blue UAS Cleared List drones & components
- Buy American compliant (65%+ US content)
- Previously authorized devices (continued use & sale)
- Testing & evaluation for compliance
Restricted
- New foreign-produced UAS
- Foreign UAS critical components
- New FCC authorizations for covered equipment
Key Dates
FCC added all foreign-produced UAS and critical components to Covered List
DoW determination exempting Blue UAS and Buy American compliant products
Exemptions expire—reassessment required, domestic content thresholds may increase
FCC Covered List
A list of communications equipment and services deemed to pose unacceptable risk to U.S. national security. Equipment on this list cannot receive FCC authorization, blocking import, marketing, or sale of new devices.
Blue UAS Cleared List
The DoD's catalog of secure, NDAA-compliant drones and components that have passed rigorous cybersecurity and performance assessments. Managed by DCMA. Platforms on this list are exempt from FCC restrictions.
Buy American Standard
Under 48 CFR § 25.101(a), a "domestic end product" must be manufactured in the United States with domestic component costs exceeding 65% of total cost. Products meeting this threshold are exempt from FCC restrictions.
UAS Critical Components
Components designed primarily for drone use: flight controllers, communications systems, data transmission devices, ground control stations, navigation systems, sensors/cameras, batteries/BMS, motors, and associated software. General-purpose items are not included.
FCC Equipment Authorization
Required approval for most electronic devices before they can be imported, marketed, or sold in the U.S. Devices on the Covered List are banned from receiving new authorizations.
Conditional Approval
An individual exemption granted by DoW/DHS for specific UAS or components. Requires submitting documentation to [email protected] and must include an onshoring plan for all critical components.
"Produced in a Foreign Country"
Determined by production location, not entity nationality. A US company producing abroad is foreign-produced; a foreign company producing in the US with 65%+ domestic content may qualify as domestic.