FCC Approves More Drone Exemptions—Here’s How the Process Works

The FCC has granted exemptions from its ban on new foreign drones to several more drone companies.

The new companies are:

• ACSL
• XAG
• Anzu Robotics
• Gremsy
• Hextronics

With these exemptions, we’re starting to get a clearer picture of how foreign drone companies—and U.S. companies that rely on foreign drone components—will be able to continue selling drones in the U.S.

The ACSL Soten drone | Credit: ACSL

Why Do These Companies Need Exemptions?

The FCC effectively banned all new foreign drones at the end of 2025.

At the time, a ban on DJI was anticipated.

But the agency went much further, moving to automatically place all new, foreign-made drones on its Covered List. Doing this makes it impossible for these drones to get FCC authorization for sale in the U.S.—effectively banning them.

When the FCC did this, it said it was working on a process for companies to apply for exemptions so they could get around the ban.

And the agency came through on this quickly. The first approvals arrived in January, just weeks after the new policy took effect.

Since then, we’ve been seeing a steady stream of companies getting these exemptions, including the most recent ones listed above.

Which Drone Companies Have Received FCC Exemptions?

The FCC’s exemption framework includes both company-wide approvals and product-specific approvals.

So far, 16 companies have received company-wide exemptions, and 4 specific drone models or product lines have been approved.

Here’s the full list:

While the list continues to grow, it’s still relatively small compared to the number of drone makers selling products globally.

That’s one reason each new approval announcement has drawn so much attention. For companies hoping to introduce new products in the U.S., receiving an exemption has become increasingly important.

The new HoverAir Aqua waterproof drone hasn’t received FCC approval—and may never get it

How the FCC’s Drone Exemption Process Works

The FCC’s drone exemption process works in two ways:

1. Category-based exemptions. All UAS and UAS components on the Blue UAS Cleared List, plus those that qualify as domestic end products, are automatically exempt. No separate company approval is needed.
2. Named company or model approvals. The FCC can grant relief to specific manufacturers or systems after review. These are the companies and products listed in the table above.

That mix means the exemption framework isn’t just a roster of approved companies.

Some drones qualify because they fit a broader category established by the FCC, while others may receive individual approvals after review.

To get an individual approval, drone companies must apply for relief and provide information about their ownership, operations, and products.

A company-wide exemption can allow a manufacturer to sell multiple drones in the U.S., while a product-specific approval applies only to the systems named in the FCC’s order.

The Exemption Process Seems to Be Reshaping the Drone Industry

The FCC’s exemption framework is still new, but it’s already influencing how drone companies think about the U.S. market.

Some companies are trying to set up assembly here in the U.S.

Skydio is a prominent example, with its recent commitment to devote $3.5 billion to domestic drone production. And Israel-based Flytrex also recently announced its first U.S. drone factory.

The practical reality is becoming harder to ignore: FCC approval is no longer just a technical hurdle.

For many drone makers, it’s a strategic business issue that could influence where products are built, how supply chains are structured, and whether new drones can be sold in the U.S. at all.