Streamlining Export Controls for Drone Exports
Built by the Tribune's code from the Federal Register. No AI wrote this page. Published in the Federal Register Jan. 21, 2026. Document 2026-01059. Updated Nov. 15, 2026.
- What it does
The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is easing export controls on certain civil Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and related technologies, which currently need a license to be exported to most countries. In particular, this interim final rule (IFR): a) allows less sensitive UAVs--namely, commercial UAVs with a maximum endurance of less than one hour, for which there is broad foreign availability--to be exported to most Wassenaar Arrangement Participating States (Country Group A:1) without a license; and b) allows more capable non-military UAVs--namely, certain long-range cargo delivery and agricultural spraying drones--to be exported to certain U.S. partners and allies (Country Group A:5) under License Exception Strategic Trade Authorization (STA). Exports pursuant to License Exception STA are subject to notification and reporting requirements to ensure the security of the exports. BIS is making these changes pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14307, "Unleashing American Drone Dominance."
The Industry and Security Bureau's summary, as published in the Federal Register.
- What changed in the regulation
2 parts of Title 15 of the Code of Federal Regulations:
Wording on eCFR: the day before it took effect and from the day it took effect (first part listed).
- Compared with
The Industry and Security Bureau has published 12 final rules in 2026 so far, compared with 22 in all of 2025.
Counted by the Tribune from Federal Register records since Jan. 1, 2025.
- Before this
No earlier Federal Register document under regulation identifier 0694-AK30 since Jan. 1, 2025.
Since then:
- What happens next and when
Effective date: This rule is effective on January 20, 2026.
The agency's dates, word for word.
The record as published
| Document number | 2026-01059 |
|---|---|
| Action | Interim final rule. |
| Agencies | Commerce Department; Industry and Security Bureau |
| Published | Jan. 21, 2026 |
| Effective date | Jan. 20, 2026 |
| Comments close | Feb. 19, 2026 |
| Regulation identifier (RIN) | 0694-AK30 |
| Docket | BIS-2025-0092 |
Source: the Federal Register (public domain). The document in the Federal Register