Red Cat Holdings has announced its support for the Federal Communications Commission’s immediate implementation of Section 1709 of the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act.
The regulatory action places foreign-manufactured drones and their critical components on the Covered List effective immediately. This decision follows an interagency review led by the White House, which concluded that such systems present unacceptable risks to the safety and sovereignty of the United States. The determination was finalized by an Executive Branch interagency body focused on national security.
Jeff Thompson, CEO of Red Cat, commented, “This is a major moment for the American drone industry. We applaud the Administration’s decision to act with urgency. The FCC’s action sends a clear signal that the U.S. is serious about securing its airspace, backing trusted technology, and leveling the playing field for U.S. manufacturers competing with foreign-subsidized products. What comes next is just as important. U.S. companies should work together to meet the demand this policy will create.”
The enforcement of Section 1709 is viewed as a vital step in protecting American critical infrastructure and airspace. However, industry leaders note that the long-term success of this policy depends on the availability of trusted domestic alternatives. It is essential for both public and private sector customers to have access to American-made platforms that are cost-effective and capable of meeting high operational demands.
As a provider of all-domain drone and robotic solutions for defense and national security, Red Cat is focused on the development of a resilient domestic ecosystem. The company currently produces a family of systems designed and built in the United States to ensure compliance with federal security standards. This includes the Black Widow platform, which is specifically engineered to meet the evolving requirements of security and defense customers while adhering to NDAA regulations.
