Updates
New laws, rules and programs that change what drone and robotics companies can sell, build and get funded forOne entry per change, newest first, with what to do about it and a source to confirm. Reviewed monthly; last review September 21, 2026. Know of a change that belongs here? Send it.
August 20, 2026Drone DominanceFirst White House Drone Dominance eventAbout 100 government and industry representatives from roughly 40 companies met at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. The program's stated goal is more than 200,000 American-made small UAS by 2027, backed by $200 billion in Office of Strategic Capital lending authority for airframes, motors, batteries, sensors and electronics at volume.
What to do: If you make any of those components, document domestic content now and get onto the finalists' supplier lists. The finalists have to buy American parts.Source: Army Recognition
What to do: If you make any of those components, document domestic content now and get onto the finalists' supplier lists. The finalists have to buy American parts.Source: Army Recognition
July 31, 2026FinancingOffice of Strategic Capital: up to $820 million for domestic drone componentsA conditional loan commitment to Performance Drone Works to build high-volume manufacturing of critical drone components (propulsion, power and control, vision systems) for Group 1 and Group 2 aircraft, to be sold to multiple manufacturers. OSC said PDW is one of several component producers receiving commitments under Executive Order 14307.
What to do: Component makers with a plant or line to expand: OSC is a lender to talk to. Everyone else: domestic parts are about to be more available.Source: Department of War release
What to do: Component makers with a plant or line to expand: OSC is a lender to talk to. Everyone else: domestic parts are about to be more available.Source: Department of War release
July 21, 2026Drone DominanceSecond Gauntlet round: 49 companies competed, 19 advancedAt Camp Grayling, Michigan, 49 companies were evaluated over 12 days on performance, ease of use and ability to produce at scale; 19 advanced to the next round beginning in August. Finalists include public companies alongside startups.
What to do: Even companies that do not win get real test feedback. Watch for the next entry window and join the S2MARTS consortium to be eligible.Source: Defense News
What to do: Even companies that do not win get real test feedback. Watch for the next entry window and join the S2MARTS consortium to be eligible.Source: Defense News
July 13, 2026CybersecurityCMMC Phase II suspendedThe Department paused the third-party (C3PAO) certification requirement that would have entered new solicitations on November 10, 2026, while a task force reviews the cost to small businesses. Phase I self-assessments stay in effect; DFARS 252.204-7012 and NIST SP 800-171 obligations are unchanged.
What to do: Keep your SPRS score posted. Do not cancel an assessment a prime contractor requires. A posted score is still a differentiator.Source: BDO
What to do: Keep your SPRS score posted. Do not cancel an assessment a prime contractor requires. A posted score is still a differentiator.Source: BDO
June 24, 2026SBIRDoD SBIR 26.BZ Release 3 opened; Navy runs a counter-UAS Commercial Solutions OpeningAFWERX specific topics opened June 24 and closed July 22. In the same cycle the Navy pre-released 12 topics plus a Counter-Unmanned Air Systems CSO, the first time NAVAIR has used a CSO for counter-drone work outside the Phase I and II structure.
What to do: Solicitations release the first Wednesday of every month. Register at sbir.gov and the DoD SBIR portal before the window you want, not during it.Source: AFWERX
What to do: Solicitations release the first Wednesday of every month. Register at sbir.gov and the DoD SBIR portal before the window you want, not during it.Source: AFWERX
February 2026Drone Dominance25 vendors invited to Drone Dominance Phase IA mix of established defense firms, specialized UAS developers and smaller companies. Procurement runs through Other Transaction Authority via the S2MARTS consortium, which removes most traditional FAR barriers.
What to do: Consortium membership is the entry ticket for future phases.Source: FedBiz Access
What to do: Consortium membership is the entry ticket for future phases.Source: FedBiz Access
January 2026Buy AmericanDepartment determination: plan for domestic content to riseDomestic end products must be manufactured in the U.S. with more than 65% domestic component cost. The Department encouraged industry to treat that as the baseline and expect the requirement to increase.
What to do: Build the bill of materials with country of origin now. Replace the highest-value foreign parts first.Source: FedBiz Access
What to do: Build the bill of materials with country of origin now. Replace the highest-value foreign parts first.Source: FedBiz Access
December 3, 2025Blue UASBlue UAS Cleared List moved from DIU to DCMAThe Defense Contract Management Agency now manages the list, supplier onboarding and expansion; DIU stays on as a standards partner. Manufacturers already listed did not need to re-certify. The list lives on a DCMA portal and the URL changed.
What to do: Confirm your listing and configuration on the DCMA portal. Clearance is per configuration and can lapse on a refresh cycle.Source: FedLaws
What to do: Confirm your listing and configuration on the DCMA portal. Clearance is per configuration and can lapse on a refresh cycle.Source: FedLaws
November 10, 2025CybersecurityCMMC Phase 1 beganNew DoD contracts that involve federal contract information or controlled unclassified information now carry a CMMC Level 1 or Level 2 self-assessment as a condition of award. The rule flows down to subcontractors and service providers handling that information.
What to do: Know whether you touch CUI. If you do, the 110 NIST 800-171 controls apply and your score must be in SPRS.Source: Venable
What to do: Know whether you touch CUI. If you do, the 110 NIST 800-171 controls apply and your score must be in SPRS.Source: Venable
October 2025ArmyArmy targets 10,000 small drones a month; SkyFoundryFollowing the July 2025 memo, the Army set a goal of fielding low-cost expendable drones to every squad by the end of 2026 and partnering with domestic industry to scale manufacturing; SkyFoundry legislation would create a government-run small UAS plant at Red River Army Depot.
What to do: Volume buyers need volume suppliers. Airframes, motors, batteries and radios at scale are the ask.Source: DefenseScoop
What to do: Volume buyers need volume suppliers. Airframes, motors, batteries and radios at scale are the ask.Source: DefenseScoop
July 10, 2025PolicySecretary's memo: Unleashing U.S. Military Drone DominanceEvery service to form drone units; every Army squad to receive expendable small drones, treated like munitions, by late fiscal 2026; procurement reform, simplified testing, expansion of Blue UAS, and a ban on reliance on certain foreign components.
What to do: This is the policy behind Drone Dominance, the Blue UAS transfer and the component loans. Read it once.Source: DIU notice
What to do: This is the policy behind Drone Dominance, the Blue UAS transfer and the component loans. Read it once.Source: DIU notice
June 6, 2025PolicyExecutive Order 14307, Unleashing American Drone DominanceDirects federal agencies to prioritize U.S.-manufactured drone systems, secure the supply chain from foreign influence, accelerate FAA beyond-visual-line-of-sight rulemaking, establish a covered foreign entity list, and promote exports of domestically produced drones.
What to do: American-made is now a procurement preference across the government, not only at DoD. Say it on your page, and be able to prove it.Source: DroneXL
What to do: American-made is now a procurement preference across the government, not only at DoD. Say it on your page, and be able to prove it.Source: DroneXL
2026, ongoingFCCFCC Covered List: foreign-made UAS and critical componentsThe FCC's 2026 Covered List actions add foreign-made unmanned aircraft and critical components, which cannot receive new equipment authorization. Platforms on the Blue UAS list carry a temporary exemption; the current end date is on fcc.gov.
What to do: Check the authorization status of every radio module you sell or fly, and of any foreign-designed platform in your fleet.Source: FlightBrief
What to do: Check the authorization status of every radio module you sell or fly, and of any foreign-designed platform in your fleet.Source: FlightBrief