FCC Adjusts Foreign Drone Oversight with New Compliance Exemptions

Washington, Saturday, 10 January 2026.
Following the disruptive December 2025 placement of foreign drone components on its Covered List, the FCC issued a critical update on January 7, 2026, granting temporary exemptions for “Blue UAS” and products meeting “Buy American” standards until January 2027. This regulatory pivot aims to stabilize the U.S. commercial drone market, which faces severe supply chain volatility due to national security concerns. The most pressing insight for industry stakeholders is the strict new benchmark: systems must now feature over 65% U.S.-manufactured content to qualify as domestic end products, signaling a forced, rapid evolution toward localized manufacturing to ensure long-term operational viability.