# 2026-16628: Feds Scrap Drone Wind Gust Tests, OK 3-Hour Flyers

2026-16628, Streamlining Export Controls for Drone Exports, is a Federal Register rule from Commerce Department, Industry and Security Bureau published 2026-08-14, effective 2026-08-13; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-08-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-16628
- As of: 2026-08-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-16628
- Title: Streamlining Export Controls for Drone Exports
- Type: Rule
- Agencies: Commerce Department; Industry and Security Bureau
- Citation: 91 FR 52501
- Published: 2026-08-14
- Effective: 2026-08-13
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: yes
- Regulation identifier numbers: 0694-AK30
- Last updated: 2026-08-21

## In one line

Feds Scrap Drone Wind Gust Tests, OK 3-Hour Flyers

## Summary

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is easing export controls on certain Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs or drones) and related parts, components, accessories, attachments, technology, and software under the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Specifically, this rule: eliminates wind gust tolerance as a parameter for determining UAV controls under the EAR; increases the threshold for national security controls on certain UAVs from an endurance of 30 minutes to an endurance of 3 hours; makes conforming changes to remove national security controls on software and technology associated with UAVs with an endurance less than 3 hours; maintains military end-use and end-user controls on those lower endurance drones and associated software and technology; clarifies Commerce Control List (CCL) controls for certain UAVs specially designed for military use; and removes national security controls on certain specially designed parts, components, accessories, and attachments for such UAVs as they do not provide any significant military or intelligence capabilities.

## Effects PRIA read

- Wind Gust Parameter Removed: benefit, medium. The rule removes wind gust tolerance as a parameter for deciding whether a drone is controlled under ECCN 9A012.a. This change takes effect August 13, 2026 and narrows one technical test that previously could have triggered export controls.
- Endurance Threshold Raised to 3 Hours: benefit, high. Drones with a maximum endurance of less than 3 hours are now controlled only for anti-terrorism (AT1) reasons under ECCN 9A012.a. BIS also removes national security (NS) reasons for control on related software and technology in ECCNs 9D001, 9D002, 9D004, and 9E001 for UAVs with endurance under 3 ho…
- Military End‑Use/End‑User Controls Maintained: cost, medium. Even though NS reasons were removed for many lower-endurance drones, the rule explicitly adds ECCNs 9A012, 9D001, 9D002, 9D004, and 9E001 to the list of items subject to the military end-use/end-user license requirement in supplement no. 2 to part 744. That means exports destined for prohibited mil…
- New Rules for Military‑Designed UAVs and STA Eligibility: mixed, medium. BIS clarifies that UAVs 'specially designed' for military use may be classified under ECCN 9A610.a and adds less-sensitive specially designed parts for those UAVs at 9A610.y.33. For 9A610 UAVs, License Exception STA may be used for destinations in Country Group A:5 if the UAV cannot deliver a paylo…
- Estimated Reduction of ~30 License Applications: benefit, low. BIS estimates the new controls will result in a decrease of 30 license applications submitted annually to BIS. This is an explicit estimate included in the final rule's analysis.

## Related documents

- [2026-22793](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22793): Extension of the Suspension of Expansion of End-User Controls for Affiliates of Certain Listed Entities, 2026-11-09
- [2026-22726](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22726): Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request;…, 2026-11-06
- [2026-22725](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22725): Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request;…, 2026-11-06
- [2026-21840](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-21840): Order Renewing Order Temporarily Denying Export Privileges, 2026-10-27
- [2026-20938](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20938): Guidance to U.S. Customs and Border Protection Regarding the Assessment of “U.S. Content” for Purposes of Implementing Tariffs Pursuant to…, 2026-10-14
- [2026-20058](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20058): Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request;…, 2026-09-30

## Sources
- [2026-16628 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/14/2026-16628/streamlining-export-controls-for-drone-exports)
- [2026-16628 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-08-14/pdf/2026-16628.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-16627, Approval of Source-Specific Air Quality Implementation Plan; New York; Big Six…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-16627)
- [Next: 2026-16630, Updates and Amendments to the Civil Service Rules](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-16630)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-16628 (as of 2026-08-21).