Export Controls
Export Controls
ITAR, drone export policy, and international procurement rules.
About Export Controls
China will control exports of large drone motors, their speed controllers, big carbon propellers and drone software from 18 November, its Commerce Ministry announced on 19 October. The same announcement loosens the limits on whole drones: a drone that flies beyond sight is now controlled at three hours of endurance, up from one.
Exports to the US get no shortcut. Since 5 August, controlled Chinese drones, parts and technology bound for the US have been reviewed case by case, without the licensing shortcuts other buyers get.
The US is closing its side too. Since 3 September an imported drone pays a 25% tariff if it weighs 25 kg or less, and 100% if it is heavier or carries a thermal imager. The FCC's decision of 22 December 2025 stops new authorisations for drones and critical drone parts made abroad.
Ukraine opened its own drone export system on 8 July. Every export needs a permit from the State Service for Export Control, which has 30 days to answer.
Coverage
China Adds Drone Motors and Software to Export Controls
Longer-flying drones get looser limits and faster paperwork from 18 November. The faster routes look shut to US buyers.
China Drafts Faster Export Route for Drones Bound for Shows
Licensed makers could skip a full licence for exhibitions and repairs. Since August, drone exports to the US face strict case-by-case review.
FCC Moves to Bar Anzu Raptor Drones Over DJI Licence
Comments close on 23 September on a proposal that would stop import and sale of a drone the maker already withdrew in February.
XAG Tells FCC That Banning Its Farm Drones Is Arbitrary
Eight of the nine firms in the FCC's July proposal ignored its investigators. The ninth answered, and is the only one arguing back.
Iran Captures Anduril Dive-LD Drone; CENTCOM Says It Failed
The IRGC showed off a US underwater drone taken near the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM says it broke down a day earlier and carried nothing classified.
Russia Unveils Dan-T Loitering Munition at Egypt Airshow
Rosoboronexport showed the Dan-T at El Alamein, calling it a loitering munition. On its own figures it flies 450 km at 500 km/h.
US Drone Tariffs of Up to 100% Take Effect September 3
A Section 232 proclamation puts 100% duties on drones over 25kg and on thermal imagers, and 25% on everything lighter, starting September 3.
Safran and Baykar Deal Puts French Sensors on TB2 Drones
Safran will fit its Euroflir optronics and navigation systems to Baykar's TB2, replacing the Canadian L3Harris Wescam MX-15.
Chinese Firms Still Ship Drone Parts to Iran and Russia: WSJ
Chinese exporters are openly shipping drone engines, batteries and microchips to Iran and Russia despite US sanctions, the WSJ reports.
Ukraine Signs 11 Drone Deals as Arms Exports Slowly Begin
The deals are frameworks with secret terms. Export rules took effect in July, but the fast track was slow to issue its first permits.
Red Cat to Deliver 173 Black Widow Drones to Japan
Red Cat Holdings wins ATLA contract to supply 173 Black Widow sUAS to Japan Ground Self-Defense Force under FY2026 procurement.
No One Is Replacing DJI in the US Consumer Market
Ten months after the FCC shut out new foreign-made drones, no American consumer drone has filled DJI's place. US makers are selling to the military.
Companies
DJI
Chinese private manufacturer of consumer, enterprise and agricultural drones, cameras and imaging systems.
China
Red Cat Holdings
US defense drone company supplying NDAA-compliant small unmanned systems for military reconnaissance through its Teal Drones subsidiary.
United States
Unusual Machines
US drone manufacturer and components distributor building NDAA-compliant drones and parts to cut American dependence on Chinese supply chains.
United States
Anduril Industries
US defense technology company building autonomous weapons, counter-UAS, and AI command software, and manufacturing them at its own Arsenal-1 plant in Ohio.
United States
Anzu Robotics
US drone company that built the Raptor series under licence from DJI, now owned by XTI Aerospace and developing a replacement after ending production.
United States
Autel Robotics
Chinese drone manufacturer producing consumer and commercial UAVs, including the EVO and Dragonfish series, with a growing defense-adjacent presence.
China
Baykar
Turkish defense company behind the Bayraktar TB2, the most widely exported armed drone of the past decade, now also the owner of Italy's Piaggio Aerospace.
Turkey
Drone Nerds
US drone distributor and enterprise solutions provider, bought by XTI Aerospace in November 2025 and now the source of almost all its revenue.
United States
Funding
Series D
Blackstone, Noteus, Airbus, Advent, BOND, Fidelity Management & Research Company, Wellington Management, A.P. Moller Holding, Elephant Lake Ventures, Balderton, HV Capital
Quantum SystemsContracts
U.S. Army
L3Harris
Three-year contract from the Army's DEVCOM Aviation & Missile Center to develop a long-range…
Powerus
Unusual Machines
Purchase order from Powerus Corporation for US-made drone components (motors, batteries, cameras and…
U.S. Army
Wescam USA (L3Harris)
Ceiling of a three-year IDIQ for commercial counter-drone capabilities under JIATF-401's Domestic…
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Dedrone Defense, D-Fend Solutions, Leidos, Fortem Technologies, CACI, BAE Systems, EMS Defense Technologies, Booz Allen Hamilton, General Dynamics Information Technology, Parsons, Anduril Industries, Astrion
Five-year multiple-award counter-UAS IDIQ led by the DHS Science and Technology Directorate…
U.S. Air Force
General Atomics, Anduril Industries
Engineering and manufacturing development and production contracts for Collaborative Combat Aircraft…