H.R. 4753: Leading Exports of Aerial Drones Act of 2025

This bill, titled the **Leading Exports of Aerial Drones Act of 2025**, proposes amendments to the Arms Export Control Act concerning unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), commonly known as drones. It is designed to change how certain drones are classified and regulated in terms of export. Here are the main components of the bill:

Classification Changes

The bill will modify existing definitions in the Arms Export Control Act to categorize certain unmanned aircraft systems and related items as equivalent to manned aircraft systems. Specifically:

• Covered unmanned aircraft systems will be treated the same way as manned aircraft systems for exporting purposes.
• These unmanned systems will not be classified as launch vehicles or missile technology, meaning they won't be subject to certain export restrictions related to the Missile Technology Control Regime.

Defining Covered Unmanned Aircraft Systems

The term **covered unmanned aircraft systems** refers to drones that:

• Are controlled under specific international regulations.
• Are designed to be reusable.

Policy Statement Changes

The bill includes a statement of policy indicating that the U.S. intends to treat these covered unmanned aircraft systems as manned systems when participating in international agreements related to missile technology.

Regulatory Amendments

The bill requires the President to direct amendments to existing regulations within 180 days of enactment:

• Amend the U.S. Munitions List, making sure that the export controls for these unmanned systems align with those for manned aircraft.
• Ensure that the covered unmanned systems are evaluated separately from missile technology, especially for collaboration agreements with allies and partners.

Definitions and Clarifications

Additional definitions and terms used in the bill are clarified, ensuring understanding and consistent application of the new regulations regarding drone exports.

Bill Process

The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives by Mr. Zinke and co-sponsored by Mr. Panetta, and it has been referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs for further consideration.

Relevant Companies

• BA (Boeing) - Boeing has a significant interest in unmanned aerial vehicle technology and could benefit from changes that facilitate drone exports.
• RTX (Raytheon Technologies) - Raytheon develops various defense technologies, including drones, which may gain access to additional export markets under the revised regulations.
• LDOS (Leidos Holdings) - Leidos has operations related to drone technologies and may be directly impacted by how drone exports are regulated.