Daily briefing
A July FCC proposal would restrict continued importation and marketing of certain previously authorized foreign-produced UAS equipment on the Covered List if classified as "military-grade." DroneDeploy notes that the proposed scope can include thermal-equipped aircraft, LiDAR-equipped aircraft and docking stations. The comment period closed earlier this month; this remains a proposal, not a final rule.
Thermal cameras, LiDAR and docks are ordinary commercial tools for inspection, mapping and automated operations. A broad definition can affect civilian fleets even when their missions have no military purpose.
US fleet operators should separate aircraft already deployed from future procurement risk and track the final FCC action before making assumptions about availability.