Inside the policy, production, and funding forces reshaping the market (Commentary.) For more than a decade, drones have been described as an industry poised for breakthrough growth: the next frontier of logistics, inspection, and autonomous systems. But that promise has often felt like an echo loop: years of pilots, hype cycles, and unease about when “real scale” would … [Read more...] about Why the Drone Boom Looks Different This Time
FCC Covered List
NARMA Focuses On US Clearance Strategy To Expand Footprint
NARMA, a developer of dual tilt-rotor VTOL uncrewed aircraft systems, announced plans to expand its U.S. presence following the Federal Communications Commission's recent expansion of the Covered List, which restricts certain foreign-produced UAS from domestic operations. The company has already begun participating in the AUVSI Green UAS Cleared process, an independent review … [Read more...] about NARMA Focuses On US Clearance Strategy To Expand Footprint
BREAKING: FCC Updates Covered List to Exempt Blue UAS and Qualified Domestic Products, Releases Additional Guidance
The Federal Communications Commission has updated its Covered List to exempt certain uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) and UAS critical components that the Department of War (DoW) has determined do not pose unacceptable national security risks. The update follows a new National Security Determination issued to the FCC on January 7, 2026, clarifying portions of the agency’s … [Read more...] about BREAKING: FCC Updates Covered List to Exempt Blue UAS and Qualified Domestic Products, Releases Additional Guidance
Industry Group Sounds Alarm on FCC’s Broad Foreign Drone Rule: Commercial Drone Alliance Weighs In
The Commercial Drone Alliance (CDA), a leading advocacy organization representing domestic and allied UAS manufacturers and operators, has issued a detailed response to the Federal Communications Commission’s recent action adding foreign-made drones and critical components to its “Covered List” — a move that effectively blocks new foreign UAS from receiving FCC equipment … [Read more...] about Industry Group Sounds Alarm on FCC’s Broad Foreign Drone Rule: Commercial Drone Alliance Weighs In
US-Designed AI Chips Power Foreign Drones at CES Even as FCC Rules Could Chill Their Future
CES 2026 starts January 6, and Ambarella’s latest edge-AI technology is back in the drone spotlight. The US-headquartered semiconductor company announced that its CV5 AI vision system-on-chip (SoC) is powering the new Antigravity A1, a compact drone positioned as the world’s first all-in-one 8K 360-degree aerial camera. The aircraft is being demonstrated at CES as a showcase … [Read more...] about US-Designed AI Chips Power Foreign Drones at CES Even as FCC Rules Could Chill Their Future
