Federal Aviation Administration

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), a U.S. government agency, regulates civil aviation safety, including drones (unmanned aircraft systems) through certification, airspace integration, and standards for beyond visual line-of-sight operations, while its Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST) oversees commercial space launches that intersect with drone and defense-related activities. In the drone industry, the FAA issues Remote ID rules, approves drone operations for public safety and defense applications, and develops technologies for safe airspace management, but does not produce defense products as it is a regulator rather than a manufacturer. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., its key 'products' include regulatory frameworks, air traffic control systems, and certification services rather than hardware.