Needham calls FCC decision on foreign drones a ‘significant positive inflection’

Needham writes that the decision by the FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, or PSHSB, to formally add uncrewed aircraft systems produced in foreign countries to its “Covered List” is a “true gift” from Santa as it was not anticipated. This designation bars all new covered foreign UAS and components from accessing FCC approvals and prohibiting their authorization in the U.S., making them ineligible for lawful operation in the U.S. market, Needham states, adding that this ruling was a “significant positive inflection” for U.S.-based drone component manufacturers such as Unusual Machines (UMAC). The policy shift is also constructive for U.S. unmanned ecosystem and companies under coverage such as Ondas (ONDS), Red Cat (RCAT), Draganfly (DPRO), and AeroVironment (AVAV), Needham noted.