The United States government has issued a new directive aimed at enhancing the country's leadership in drone technology. The order, signed by President Donald J. Trump, outlines several measures to integrate unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) into the National Airspace System and boost domestic production and export of American-made drones.
"Drones are already transforming industries from logistics and infrastructure inspection to precision agriculture, emergency response, and public safety," states the order. It emphasizes the need for accelerating testing, enabling routine operations, scaling up production, and expanding exports of U.S.-manufactured drones.
The directive mandates the Secretary of Transportation to work through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to issue rules for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations within 30 days. A final rule is expected within 240 days. Additionally, artificial intelligence tools will be deployed to expedite UAS waiver applications under FAA regulations.
A key component of the initiative is establishing an Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing Pilot Program (eIPP), which aims to deploy safe eVTOL operations in coordination with state and local governments. Selected pilot projects will focus on various sectors including advanced air mobility and cargo transport.
To strengthen the domestic drone industry, all agencies are directed to prioritize U.S.-made drones over foreign ones. The Federal Acquisition Security Council will publish a list identifying companies that pose supply chain risks.
On international fronts, the Secretary of Commerce is tasked with reviewing export control regulations to facilitate expedited export of U.S.-manufactured civil UAS while ensuring security against foreign adversaries.
For military applications, the Department of Defense is instructed to prioritize procurement of compliant drones made by U.S. companies as outlined in section 848 of the FY 2020 NDAA.
The order concludes with general provisions clarifying its implementation should not affect existing legal authorities or create enforceable rights against the United States government.
