9A012 Category 9A
Non-military “Unmanned Aerial Vehicles,” (“UAVs”), unmanned “airships”, related equipment and “components”, as follows (see List of Items Controlled).
Category 9: Aerospace and Propulsion
Reasons for control
- NS: National security
- MT: Missile technology
- AT: Anti-terrorism
Country chart
| Control | Column |
|---|---|
| AT applies to entire entry | AT 1 |
| MT applies to non-military Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Remotely Piloted Vehicles (RPVs) that are capable of a maximum range of at least 300 kilometers (km), regardless of payload, and UAVs that meet the requirements of 9A120 | MT 1 |
| NS applies to 9A012.a.1 | NS 2 |
| NS applies to entire entry, except .a.1 | NS 1 |
List-based license exceptions
Items
- a. “UAVs” or unmanned “airships”, designed to have controlled flight out of the direct 'natural vision' of the 'operator' and having any of the following:
- a.1. Having all of the following:
- a.1.a. A maximum 'endurance' greater than or equal to 30 minutes but less than 1 hour; and
- a.1.b. Designed to take-off and have stable controlled flight in wind gusts equal to or exceeding 46.3 km/h (25 knots); or
- a.2. A maximum 'endurance' of 1 hour or greater;
- b. Related equipment and “components”, as follows:
- b.1 [Reserved]
- b.2. [Reserved]
- b.3. Equipment or “components” “specially designed” to convert a manned “aircraft” or a manned “airship” to a “UAV” or unmanned “airship”, controlled by 9A012.a;
- b.4. Air breathing reciprocating or rotary internal combustion type engines, “specially designed” or modified to propel “UAVs” or unmanned “airships”, at altitudes above 15,240 meters (50,000 feet).
Related controls
(1) See the U.S. Munitions List Category VIII (22 CFR part 121). (2) Also see ECCN 9A610 and § 744.3 of the EAR. (3) For “UAVs” that are “sub-orbital craft,” see ECCNs 9A004.h and 9A515.a.
Notes
Technical Notes: 1. For the purposes of 9A012.a, 'operator' is a person who initiates or commands the “UAV” or unmanned “airship” flight. 2. For the purposes of 9A012.a, 'endurance' is to be calculated for ISA conditions (ISO 2533:1975) at sea level in zero wind.3. For the purposes of 9A012.a, 'natural vision' means unaided human sight, with or without corrective lenses.
Source: eCFR, version
2026-08-01, retrieved
2026-08-20T04:04:59+00:00.