https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN45296-ALARACT_0992025-000-WEB-1.pdf
URGENT ALARACT 099/2025
DTG: R 231810Z OCT 25
FROM: ALARACT RELEASE AUTHORITY WASHINGTON DC
TO: ALARACT
UNCLAS
SUBJ/URGENT ALARACT 099/2025 – ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM ACCESS
REQUIREMENTS IN SUPPORT OF THE SECWAR MEMO FOR U.S. MILITARY
DRONE DOMINANCE.
THIS URGENT ALARACT MESSAGE HAS BEEN TRANSMITTED BY JSP ON
BEHALF OF HQDA, DCS, G–6
1. (U) REFERENCES:
1.A. (U) SECRETARY OF DEFENSE MEMO, “UNLEASHING U.S. DRONE
DOMINANCE”, JULY 10, 2025 (AVAILABLE AT
HTTPS://WWW.WAR.GOV/NEWS/PUBLICATIONS/)
1.B. (U) TITLE 47, CHAPTER III, PART 300 – MANUAL OF REGULATIONS AND
PROCEDURES FOR FEDERAL RADIO FREQUENCY MANAGEMENT (AVAILABLE AT
HTTPS://WWW.ECFR.GOV/)
1.C. (U) THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISISION (FCC) OFFICE OF
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY’S (OET) (AVAILABLE AT
HTTPS://WWW.FCC.GOV/ENGINEERING-TECHNOLOGY)
1.D. (U) DODI 4650.01, POLICY AND PROCEDURES FOR MANAGEMENT AND USE
OF THE ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM, DATED 9 JANUARY 2009 (AVAILABLE
AT HTTPS://WWW.ESD.WHS.MIL/DIRECTIVES/ISSUANCES/DODI/)
1.E. (U) NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION
MANUAL OF REGULATIONS AND PROCEDURES FOR FEDERAL RADIO
FREQUENCY MANAGEMENT JANUARY 2022 REVISION OF THE JANUARY 2021
EDITION, DATED JANUARY 2022 (AVAILABLE AT
HTTPS://WWW.NTIA.GOV/PUBLICATIONS/REDBOOK-MANUAL)
1.F. (U) MIL–STD 461G, REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF
ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERFERENCE CHARACTERISTICS OF SUBSYSTEMS AND
EQUIPMENT, DATED 11 DECEMBER 2015 (AVAILABLE AT
HTTPS://WWW.DAU.EDU/COP/E3/DOCUMENTS/MIL-STD-461G/)
1.G. (U) G. AR 5-12 (ARMY USE OF THE ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM, DTD 16
FEB 2016 – REGULATION REWRITE AND PAM IN DRAFT) (AVAILABLE AT
HTTPS://ARMYPUBS.ARMY.MIL/DEFAULT.ASPX)
2. (U) PURPOSE: THIS ALARACT MESSAGE OUTLINES THE ACTIONS AND
REQUIREMENTS NECESSARY TO OBTAIN FREQUENCY ASSIGNMENTS IN
SUPPORT OF DRONE DOMINANCE EFFORTS, ENSURING COMPLIANCE WITH
APPLICABLE DOMESTIC STATUTES AND FOREIGN HOST NATION
COORDINATION REQUIREMENTS. ADDITIONALLY, IT DESCRIBES SEVERAL
METHODS FOR SECURING FREQUENCY ASSIGNMENTS TO SUPPORT DRONE
OR UAS TESTING AND EVALUATION, ALONG WITH THE EXPECTED TIMEFRAME
FOR EACH METHOD.
3. (U) ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM AUTHORIZATIONS / FREQUENCY
ASSIGNMENTS.
3.A. (U) COMMERCIAL OFF-THE-SHELF (COTS) UAS OR DRONES.
3.A.1. (U) OPERATIONS INSIDE THE UNITED STATES AND POSSESSIONS (US&P).
3.A.1.1. (U) WITHIN THE US&P, ARMY ORGANIZATIONS OPERATING NON-
PROGRAM OF RECORD UAS USING FCC PART 15 FREQUENCY BANDS (433
MHZ, 902-928 MHZ, 2.4 GHZ, OR 5.8 GHZ) MAY OPERATE THESE SYSTEMS
BASED ON THEIR APPROVED FCC LICENSE.
3.A.1.2. (U) ARMY ORGANIZATIONS MUST ADHERE TO THE OPERATING
PARAMETERS AS OUTLINED IN THE APPROVED FCC LICENSE TO AVOID
INTERFERING WITH PUBLIC SAFETY, DISRUPTING FLIGHT OPERATIONS, AND
VOIDING THE FCC LICENSE BY ALTERING THE OPERATING PARAMETERS OF
THE C2 RADIOS IN THE COTS UAS OR TRANSFERRING THE C2 RADIO INTO A
LARGER UAS PLATFORM.
3.A.1.3. (U) NON-FCC LICENSED UAS. FOR COTS UAS OPERATIONS WITHOUT
PREAPPROVED FCC LICENSES, REFER TO PARAGRAPH 3.D.3. TEMPORARY
FREQUENCY ASSIGNMENT OPTIONS FOR OPERATIONS WITHIN THE US&P.
3.A.2. (U) OPERATIONS OUTSIDE OF US&P. SEE PARAGRAPH 3.E. FOR COTS
UAS OPERATIONS OUTSIDE OF THE US&P.
3.B. (U) GOVERNMENT OFF-THE-SHELF (GOTS) UAS OR PROGRAM OF RECORD
UAS.
3.B.1. (U) OPERATIONS INSIDE THE US&P
3.B.1.1. (U) ARMY ORGANIZATIONS MUST COORDINATE FOR FREQUENCY
ASSIGNMENTS THROUGH THEIR RESPECTIVE SPECTRUM MANAGERS PRIOR
TO OPERATING GOTS OR PROGRAMS OF RECORD UAS.
3.B.1.2. (U). SEE PARAGRAPH 3.D.3. FOR TEMPORARY FREQUENCY
ASSIGNMENT AND PARAGRAPH 3.D.4. FOR PERMANENT FREQUENCY
ASSIGNMENTS FOR SPECTRUM COORDINATION IN SUPPORT OF OPERATIONS
WITHIN THE US&P.
3.B.2. (U) OPERATIONS OUTSIDE OF US&P. SEE PARAGRAPH 3.E. FOR GOTS
UAS OPERATIONS OUTSIDE OF THE US&P.
3.C. (U) UNIT MANUFACTURED OR ASSEMBLED UAS.
3.C.1. (U) ARMY ORGANIZATIONS MUST COORDINATE THE USE OF UNIT
MANUFACTURED UAS, TO INCLUDE 3D PRINTED, ADDITIVE MANUFACTURED,
OR UNIT ASSEMBLED FROM PURCHASED COMPONENTS, THROUGH THEIR
RESPECTIVE SPECTRUM MANAGERS PRIOR TO OPERATIONS. THIS
REQUIREMENT APPLIES TO UAS USING C2 RADIOS CANNIBALIZED FROM COTS
UAS.
3.C.2. (U) OPERATIONS INSIDE THE US&P. SEE PARAGRAPH 3.D.3. TEMPORARY
FREQUENCY ASSIGNMENT OPTIONS FOR OPERATIONS INSIDE THE US&P.
3.C.3. (U) SEE PARAGRAPH 3.E. FOR UNIT MANUFACTURED UAS OPERATIONS
OUTSIDE OF THE US&P.
3.D. (U) SPECTRUM COORDINATION INSIDE THE US&P.
3.D.1. (U) COORDINATION ON ARMY CONTROLLED AREAS.
3.D.1.1. (U) ARMY ORGANIZATIONS MUST OBTAIN FREQUENCY ASSIGNMENTS
VIA THEIR RESPECTIVE SPECTRUM MANAGER FOR UAS OPERATIONS WITHIN
ARMY CONTROLLED AREAS. THE ARMY CAMP/POST/INSTALLATION SPECTRUM
MANAGEMENT OFFICE SHALL BE MADE AWARE OF ALL SPECTRUM-
DEPENDENT DEVICES BEING OPERATED WITHIN THEIR RESPECTIVE AREAS OF
OPERATION TO PRECLUDE ANY SPECTRUM INTERFERENCE WITH OTHER
AUTHORIZED SPECTRUM DEVICES.
3.D.2. (U) FOR UAS OPERATIONS OUTSIDE OF ARMY-CONTROLLED AREAS (E.G.,
UASF BASE, USN/USMC BASE, UNIVERSITY, ETC.), ARMY ORGANIZATIONS MUST
OBTAIN FREQUENCY ASSIGNMENTS VIA THEIR SPECTRUM COORDINATION
CHANNELS THROUGH THE RESPECTIVE DEPARTMENT OF WAR (DOW) AREA
FREQUENCY COORDINATOR.
3.D.3. (U) TEMPORARY FREQUENCY ASSIGNMENT OPTIONS.
3.D.3.1. (U) THE FOLLOWING TEMPORARY FREQUENCY ASSIGNMENT OPTIONS
APPLY ONLY TO US&P OPERATIONS SUPPORTING EXPERIMENTAL UAS,
INCLUDING UNIT-MANUFACTURED OR ASSEMBLED MODELS WITH C2 RADIOS
CANNIBALIZED FROM COTS PLATFORMS, AND GOTS UAS REQUIRING SHORT-
TERM ASSIGNMENTS UNTIL LONG-TERM AUTHORIZATION IS SECURED.
3.D.3.2. (U) ARMY ORGANIZATIONS MUST COORDINATE WITH THEIR
RESPECTIVE SPECTRUM MANAGER TO OBTAIN TEMPORARY FREQUENCY
ASSIGNMENTS. TIMELINES FOR TEMPORARY FREQUENCY APPROVALS WILL
DEPEND ON THE SPECTRUM COORDINATION PATH CHOSEN.
3.D.3.3. (U) STA PROCESSES (NTIA AND FCC).
3.D.3.3.1. (U) NTIA STA PROCESS FOR FEDERAL AGENCIES.
3.D.3.3.1.1. (U) FOR UAS OPERATIONS INSIDE THE US&P AND IAW NTIA MANUAL
(REF E), ARMY ORGANIZATIONS REQUESTING TEMPORARY FREQUENCIES IN
SUPPORT OF UAS, OWNED BY THE ARMY, VIA COORDINATION WITH THEIR
ASSIGNED SPECTRUM MANAGER OR HIGHER HQ SPECTRUM MANAGER, MAY
USE THE NTIA STA PROCESS IF NO EXISTING FREQUENCY ASSIGNMENT
APPEARS IN THE SPECTRUM XXI (SXXI) GOVERNMENT MASTER FILE (GMF)
DATABASE.
3.D.3.3.1.2. (U) THE NTIA, THROUGH THE FREQUENCY ASSIGNMENT
SUBCOMMITTEE (FAS) OF THE INTERDEPARTMENT RADIO ADVISORY
COMMITTEE (IRAC), MAY AUTHORIZE SHORT-TERM FREQUENCY ASSIGNMENTS
– REFERRED TO AS STA – FOR FEDERAL USERS CONDUCTING OPERATIONS
WITHIN THE US&P. THE PROCESS SUPPORTS NON-EMERGENCY ACTIVITIES
AFTER A MINIMUM OF 5 BUSINESS DAYS, ALLOWING NTIA TO COORDINATE
WITH IMPACTED STAKEHOLDERS FOLLOWING FORMAL SUBMISSION.
3.D.3.3.1.3. (U) THE APPROVAL OF A STA DOES NOT GUARANTEE THAT THE NTIA
WILL APPROVE PERMANENT USE OF THE FREQUENCY FOR A GMF
ASSIGNMENT. AGENCIES SHOULD NOT MAKE LONG-TERM DECISIONS BASED
ON SHORT-TERM STA USE.
3.D.3.3.1.3. (U) STOP BUZZER POINT OF CONTACT. ARMY ORGANIZATIONS WILL
PROVIDE STOP BUZZER CONTACT INFORMATION, REACHABLE 24 HOURS A
DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, UPON REQUEST BY OTHER AGENCIES OR THE FCC
WHEN INTERFERENCE IS ANTICIPATED, IN ORDER TO PROTECT THEIR
OPERATIONS.
3.D.3.3.1.4. (U) MINIMUM REQUIRED INFORMATION.
3.D.3.3.1.4.1. (U) NTIA STAS REQUIRE A MINIMUM SET OF INFORMATION,
OUTLINED IN REF E, AND REQUIRE SUBMISSION VIA SXXI BY THE ARMY
ORGANIZATION THROUGH ITS SPECTRUM MANAGER TO NETCOM OR THE
APPROPRIATE DOW AREA FREQUENCY COORDINATOR (AFC) AT LEAST 3
WEEKS PRIOR TO PLANNED OPERATIONS.
3.D.3.3.1.4.2. (U) STA REQUESTS FOLLOW THE FORMAT USED FOR FREQUENCY
PROPOSALS SUBMITTED THROUGH SXXI. NETCOM OR THE APPROPRIATE
DOW AREA FREQUENCY COORDINATOR CONVERTS SXXI REQUESTS INTO STA
GMF FORMAT BEFORE SUBMISSION TO NTIA.
3.D.3.3.1.4.3. (U) STAS MAY SUPPORT REQUIREMENTS INCLUDING, BUT NOT
LIMITED TO, EXERCISES, SHORT-TERM EVENTS, OR EQUIPMENT TESTS AND
EVALUATIONS LASTING 30 DAYS OR LESS. REQUESTS FOR PERIODS SLIGHTLY
LONGER THAN 30 DAYS WILL BE CONSIDERED ONLY ON A CASE-BY-CASE
BASIS BY THE NTIA.
3.D.3.3.1.4.4. (U) NOTIFY DCS, G-6 OF SXXI SUBMISSION ISO NTIA STAS VIA
EMAIL USARMY.MEADE.HQDA-DCS-G-MESG.ARMY-FAS@ARMY.MIL
3.D.3.3.2. (U) FCC STA FOR COMMERCIAL VENDORS AND MANUFACTURERS.
3.D.3.3.2.1. (U) FOR UAS OPERATIONS WITHIN THE US&P INVOLVING UAS NOT
OWNED BY ARMY ORGANIZATIONS AND LACKING PREAPPROVED FCC
LICENSES, ARMY ORGANIZATIONS MUST ADVISE THE COMMERCIAL UAS
VENDOR TO SUBMIT A STA REQUEST DIRECTLY TO THE FCC WITH SUFFICIENT
LEAD TIME BEFORE PLANNED OPERATIONS.
3.D.3.3.2.2. (U) PLEASE DIRECT THE COMMERCIAL VENDOR TO THE FCC FOR
SPECIAL TEMPORARY AUTHORITY LICENSING AND ADDITIONAL DETAILS ON
THE FCC’S PROCESS.
3.D.3.3.3. (U) SUB-ASSIGNMENT FROM GMF.
3.D.3.3.3.1. (U) IAW WITH AR 5-12 (REF G), FOR UAS OWNED BY ARMY
ORGANIZATIONS AND OPERATIONS INSIDE THE US&P, LOCAL SPECTRUM
MANAGERS MAY SUB-ASSIGN TEMPORARY FREQUENCIES FROM EXISTING
ARMY ASSIGNMENTS IN THE GMF AFTER COORDINATING WITH THE
ASSIGNMENT OWNER, PROVIDED THE SUB-ASSIGNMENTS REMAIN WITHIN THE
PARAMETERS OUTLINED IN THE GMF RECORD.
3.D.3.3.3.2. (U) TIMELINES FOR SUB-ASSIGNMENT APPROVALS WILL DEPEND
ON THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE LOCAL INSTALLATION SPECTRUM
MANAGER, NETCOM, OR THE APPROPRIATE DOW AREA FREQUENCY
COORDINATOR (AFC). DCS G-6 RECOMMENDS THAT THESE AUTHORITIES
DEVELOP RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT PROMOTE THE MOST EXPEDIENT
TIMEFRAMES FOR SUB-ASSIGNMENT APPROVALS. GMF ASSIGNMENTS
ALREADY REFLECT APPROVAL FROM STAKEHOLDERS OUTSIDE THE ARMY AND
TYPICALLY CAUSE ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERFERENCE ONLY TO OTHER ARMY
USERS, ISSUES THAT SPECTRUM MANAGERS CAN ADDRESS THROUGH
COORDINATION AND SCHEDULING.
3.D.3.3.4. (U) NTIA TEMPORARY FREQUENCY ASSIGNMENT.
3.D.3.3.4.1. (U) IAW AR 5-12 (REF G), FOR UAS OWNED BY ARMY
ORGANIZATIONS AND OPERATIONS INSIDE THE US&P, THE COMMAND OR
ORGANIZATION SPECTRUM MANAGER MUST SUBMIT FREQUENCY
ASSIGNMENT REQUESTS THROUGH THE APPROPRIATE CHANNELS TO
NETCOM OR THE APPROPRIATE DOW AFC AT LEAST 45 DAYS PRIOR TO
PLANNED OPERATIONS. ARMY ORGANIZATIONS SHOULD CONSIDER THIS PATH
A LAST RESORT, AS IT TAKES LONGER THAN THE STA OR SUB-ASSIGNMENT
PATHS.
3.D.4. (U) NTIA PERMANENT FREQUENCY ASSIGNMENT.
3.D.4.1. (U) IAW REF E AND AR 5-12 (REF G), FOR OPERATIONS INSIDE THE
US&P, ARMY ORGANIZATIONS MUST COORDINATE THROUGH THEIR
RESPECTIVE SPECTRUM MANAGER TO SUBMIT NEW PERMANENT FREQUENCY
ASSIGNMENT REQUESTS TO NETCOM OR THE APPROPRIATE DOW AFC AT
LEAST 120 DAYS BEFORE PLANNED OPERATIONS TO PURSUE PERMANENT
FREQUENCY ASSIGNMENT OPTIONS. THE PERMANENT FREQUENCY
ASSIGNMENT PROCESS THROUGH THE NTIA WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE AS
THE BENCHMARK FOR ALL ASSIGNMENTS INTENDED FOR LONG-TERM USE
INSIDE THE US&P.
3.E. (U) SPECTRUM COORDINATION OUTSIDE THE US&P.
3.E.1. (U) FOR ALL UAS OPERATIONS OUTSIDE THE US&P (FOREIGN HOST
NATION COORDINATION), ARMY ORGANIZATIONS MUST OBTAIN FREQUENCY
ASSIGNMENT VIA SPECTRUM CORDINATION WITH THE RESPECTIVE ARMY
SERVICE COMPONENT COMMAND SPECTRUM MANAGEMENT OFFICE.
REQUIREMENTS FOR FREQUENCY ASSIGNMENTS MAY DIFFER DEPENDING ON
THE HOST NATION. IN THESE CASES, THE RESPECTIVE COMBATANT COMMAND
(CCMD) IS THE FREQUENCY ASSIGNMENT AUTHORITY.
4. (U) THE DCS, G–6 (ASMO) POINT OF CONTACT FOR THIS ALARACT IS MELVIN
R. FORD, AVAILABLE BY EMAIL AT MELVIN.R.FORD.CIV@ARMY.MIL.
5. (U) THIS ALARACT MESSAGE EXPIRES ON 22 OCTOBER 2026.