ECCN 9A012

NSMTAT

Non-military Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, (UAVs), unmanned airships, related equipment and components, as follows .

Category: 9 - AerospaceProduct Group: A - EquipmentLast Updated: 2026-04-10

What This ECCN Covers

ECCN 9A012 controls non-military "Unmanned Aerial Vehicles" (UAVs), unmanned airships, and related equipment and components that can fly beyond the operator's direct natural vision and meet defined endurance or altitude criteria, plus associated autopilots and launch, recovery, and control equipment. Long-endurance and autonomous drones are dual-use platforms that can also serve as delivery systems, which is why Missile Technology controls apply alongside National Security and Anti-Terrorism.

Who needs to check this?

Drone and UAV manufacturers, autopilot and ground-control-station makers, and exporters of payload, datalink, or recovery systems for unmanned aircraft.

Compliance tip

9A012 carries Missile Technology controls, so most license exceptions are unavailable and many exports require a license regardless of destination; endurance and beyond-visual-line-of-sight capability are the key triggers. Watch for MTCR Category I/II implications and the missile/UAV end-use rules in EAR Part 744, and screen all parties before export.

Reviewed by Jack Tan · Last reviewed: Jun 4, 2026

Items Covered

  • 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:
  • 1. Having all of the following:
  • 1.a. A maximum 'endurance' greater than or equal to 30 minutes but less than 1 hour; and
  • 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
  • 2. A maximum 'endurance' of 1 hour or greater;
  • b.Related equipment and "components", as follows:
  • 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;
  • 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).

2 items reserved by BIS (not shown)

Control Reasons

NSNational Security

Items controlled for national security reasons under multilateral export control regimes.

Column 1: YesColumn 2: No
MTMissile Technology

Items controlled under the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR).

Column 1: YesColumn 2: No
ATAnti-Terrorism

Items controlled for anti-terrorism reasons. Most items on the CCL have AT controls.

Column 1: YesColumn 2: No

Disclaimer

This information is for reference only. For official classifications, consult BIS or a qualified export control professional.

Official Reference