§ 1156. Limitation on unmanned aircraft systems

• (a) During any fiscal year for which funds are appropriated for the design or construction of an Offshore Patrol Cutter, the Commandant—
  • (1) may not award a contract for design of an unmanned aircraft system for use by the Coast Guard; and
  • (2) may lease, acquire, or acquire the services of an unmanned aircraft system only if such system—
    • (A) has been part of a program of record of, procured by, or used by a Federal entity (or funds for research, development, test, and evaluation have been received from a Federal entity with regard to such system) before the date on which the Commandant leases, acquires, or acquires the services of the system; and
    • (B) is leased, acquired, or utilized by the Commandant through an agreement with a Federal entity, unless such an agreement is not practicable or would be less cost-effective than an independent contract action by the Coast Guard.
• (b) Subsection (a)(2) does not apply to small unmanned aircraft.
• (c) In this section, the terms “small unmanned aircraft” and “unmanned aircraft system” have the meanings given those terms in section 44801 of title 49 .