BIS interim final rule streamlines export controls for certain civil UAVs and expands STA eligibility for specified MT-controlled UAVs

BIS issued an Interim Final Rule (IFR) amending the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) (15 CFR parts 740 and 774) to ease export/reexport/transfer requirements for certain civil unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Key changes include: (1) for ECCN 9A012.a.1 short-endurance civil UAVs, BIS revised the reason for control from NS Column 1 (NS1) to NS Column 2 (NS2), expanding no-license-required (NLR) eligibility to more destinations (as described in the rule); (2) BIS expanded License Exception STA by adding § 740.20(c)(1)(ii), allowing certain Missile Technology (MT)-controlled UAVs in ECCNs 9A012 and 9A120 to use STA for exports/reexports/transfers to or within Country Group A:5, while maintaining an exclusion for UAVs capable of delivering ≥500 kg payload to a range of ≥300 km; and (3) BIS made conforming/implementing text edits including to § 740.20(b)(2)(iii) and STA carve-outs in § 740.2(a)(5). The rule was effective January 20, 2026, and BIS requested public comments by February 19, 2026. Compliance teams exporting commercial/civil UAVs should reassess classification (ECCN), destination eligibility (Country Group A:1 vs A:5), STA eligibility conditions, and any internal screening/controls tied to MT parameters.