The EU drone class system – spanning from the c0 drone category to c6 drones – defines the manufacturer compliance framework established by Regulation (EU) 2019/945. Each drone class carries specific technical, Remote ID and geo-awareness requirements that directly determine the conformity assessment path a manufacturer must follow. This article describes the technical and compliance requirements of UA classes from a manufacturer’s perspective and does not address operational or pilot requirements. For the regulatory background, see our article on EU Regulation 2019/945 Explained.
What Is the UAS Drone Class?
The seven drone class categories (C0–C6) determine the technical, compliance, and certification requirements. UA classes set out the path of conformity assessment procedure. Furthermore, the UA Class determines at the same time which operational category the drone may fly. The UAS intended to be operated under the rules and conditions applicable to the ‘open’ category of UAS operations or to operational declarations under the ‘specific’ category of UAS operations pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2019/947.
What is a C1 drone? A C1 drone is an unmanned aircraft with an MTOM of less than 900 g, or one that transmits less than 80 J of energy upon impact at terminal velocity. It must be equipped with Direct Remote Identification (DRI) and geo-awareness functionality.
What is a C2 drone? A C2 drone is an unmanned aircraft with an MTOM of less than 4 kg including payload. Like the C1 class, it requires DRI and geo-awareness, and additionally includes a low-speed mode limiting ground speed to 3 m/s.
C1 drone classification is based on the product’s design parameters – primarily MTOM, speed, and functional capabilities – not on the intended operation.
EU Regulatory Background: Regulation (EU) 2019/945
European Commission delegated the (EU) 2019/945 Regulation, it lays down the requirements of conformity assessment and CE Marking processes and determines the method of the classification of UAs. The UA classes (from C0 to C6) determine the technical, compliance, and certification requirements and the classes set out the path of conformity assessment procedure. This article describes the technical requirements of UA Classes.
It is important to note that the c2 drone rules defined in this regulation are manufacturer-facing technical requirements – they are not operational rules for pilots or operators. For a detailed breakdown, see our article on EU Regulation 2019/945 Explained.
Requirements for a Class C0 Unmanned Aircraft System
In this topic introduces the c0 drone technical specifications:
- MTOM (Maximum Take-Off Mass) shall be less than 250 g
- Maximum speed in level flight of 19 m/s
- Maximum attainable height above the take-off point limited to 120 m
- Shall be safely controllable with regards to stability, manoeuvrability and the command and control link performance
- Shall be designed and constructed in such a way as to minimise injury to people during operation, sharp edges shall be avoided
- Exclusively powered by electricity
- If optional Follow-me Mode is installed, it shall follow the remote pilot within a range not exceeding 50 m
- Providing the User Manual with clear operational instructions
- An information notice attaches to the product
In the c0 drone class, the DRI (Direct Remote Identification) and the Geo-awareness functions are not mandatory and the manufacturers are not required to affix the Sound Power Label.
The c0 vs c1 drone distinction is one of the most common decision points in product development. The key boundary is the 250 g MTOM threshold – above this, DRI and geo-awareness become mandatory, significantly increasing the technical and compliance burden for the manufacturer.
Requirements for a Class C1 Unmanned Aircraft System
Let’s see the c1 drone technical specifications:
- Shall ensure that in the event of an impact at terminal velocity with a human head, the energy transmitted is less than 80 J, or shall have an MTOM of less than 900 g
- Maximum speed in level flight of 19 m/s
- Maximum attainable height above the take-off point limited to 120 m
- Shall be safely controllable with regards to stability, manoeuvrability and the command and control link performance
- The UA in C1 class has the requisite mechanical strength
- Shall be designed and constructed in such a way as to minimise injury to people during operation, sharp edges shall be avoided
- In case of a loss of the command and control link, have a reliable and predictable method to recover or terminate the flight
- Guaranteed A-weighted sound power level
- Exclusively powered by electricity
- Unique serial number compliant with standard ANSI/CTA-2063-A-2019
- DRI – mandatory
- Geo-Awareness function – mandatory
- Optional Geofencing function
- Clear warning when the battery reaches a low level
- Lights for controllability and conspicuity
- If optional Follow-me Mode is installed, range shall not exceed 50 m
- User Manual and information notice required
- Optional Network Remote identification system
The drone c1 label – the class identification label – must be affixed to each individual product together with the CE marking before the product is placed on the market. The drone c1 label is a legal requirement under Regulation (EU) 2019/945 and must appear alongside the EU Declaration of Conformity.
A c1 drone has more requirements than a C0 class UAS. In the C1 class the DRI and the Geo-awareness functions are mandatory. Both are critical functions and based on our experience, it is a difficult challenge for manufacturers to comply with the requirements. The c0 vs c1 drone comparison makes clear that the compliance scope increases significantly at this threshold. See more information in the Remote ID and Geo-Awareness topic. For CE marking obligations, see our article on Drone CE Marking – Mandatory Requirements.
Requirements for a Class C2 Unmanned Aircraft System
- MTOM (Maximum Take-Off Mass) shall be less than 4 kg, including payload
- Maximum attainable height above the take-off point limited to 120 m
- Shall be safely controllable with regards to stability, manoeuvrability and the command and control link performance
- The UA in C2 class has the requisite mechanical strength
- If the UA is tethered, tensile length less than 50 m with appropriate mechanical strength
- Shall be designed and constructed in such a way as to minimise injury to people, sharp edges shall be avoided
- In case of a loss of the command and control link, have a reliable and predictable method to recover or terminate the flight; command and control link protected against unauthorised access
- Low-speed mode limiting ground speed to no more than 3 m/s
- Guaranteed A-weighted sound power level
- Exclusively powered by electricity
- Unique serial number compliant with ANSI/CTA-2063-A-2019
- DRI – mandatory
- Geo-Awareness function – mandatory
- Optional Geofencing function
- Clear warning when the battery reaches a low level
- Lights for controllability and conspicuity
- User Manual and information notice required
- Optional Network Remote identification system
The key difference between c2 drones and C1 is the MTOM threshold (4 kg vs 900 g) and the addition of the low-speed mode requirement. The c2 drone rules under Regulation (EU) 2019/945 apply to the manufacturer – they define product-level technical obligations, not operational rules.
Requirements for a Class C3 Unmanned Aircraft System
- MTOM (Maximum Take-Off Mass) shall be less than 25 kg, including payload and maximum characteristic dimension less than 3 m
- Maximum attainable height above the take-off point limited to 120 m
- Shall be safely controllable with regards to stability, manoeuvrability and the command and control link performance
- If the UA is tethered, tensile length less than 50 m with appropriate mechanical strength
- Reliable method to recover command and control link or terminate flight; link protected against unauthorised access
- Guaranteed A-weighted sound power level
- Exclusively powered by electricity
- Unique serial number compliant with ANSI/CTA-2063-A-2019
- DRI – mandatory
- Geo-Awareness function – mandatory
- Optional Geofencing function
- Clear warning when the battery reaches a low level
- Lights for controllability and conspicuity
- User Manual and information notice required
- Optional Network Remote identification system
The difference between the c3 drone and C2 classes is that C3 does not have mechanical strength and low-speed mode requirements. Furthermore, c3 drone UA can be heavier, since the maximum take-off mass is limited to 25 kg.
Requirements for a Class C4 Unmanned Aircraft System
- MTOM (Maximum Take-Off Mass) shall be less than 25 kg, including payload
- Shall be safely controllable with regards to stability, manoeuvrability and the command and control link performance
- The c4 drone shall not be capable of automatic control modes except for flight stabilisation assistance with no direct effect on the trajectory and lost link assistance
- User Manual and information notice required
The c4 drone category is primarily relevant for industrial and professional applications requiring heavier payloads without advanced automation. Unlike C3, DRI and geo-awareness are not mandatory for C4.
Requirements for Class C5 and C6 Unmanned Aircraft Systems
C5 drone and c6 drones are specialist class categories with more industrial-specific functions. The base requirements of C5 and C6 are linked to C3 specifications, including MTOM, controllability, link protection, sound power level, electricity power, unique serial number, DRI, battery warning, lights, User Manual and information notice.
Additional requirements for c5 drone:
- Shall be an aircraft other than a fixed-wing aircraft unless tethered
- Geo-Awareness function
- Clear and concise information on the height of the UA
- Low-speed mode selectable by the remote pilot, limiting ground speed to not more than 5 m/s
- Terminate the flight of the UA
- Continuously monitor the quality of the command and control link
Additional requirements for c6 drone and c6 drones:
- Maximum ground speed in level flight of not more than 50 m/s
- Geo-Awareness function
- Clear and concise information on geographical position, speed and height of the UA
- Geocaging function preventing breach of programmable operational volume
- Terminate the flight of the UA
- Programme the UA trajectory
- Continuously monitor the quality of the command and control link
An important distinction: c6 drones are not limited to electric power, unlike all other drone classes. This makes the C6 category relevant for heavier, longer-range industrial UAS applications.
Remote ID and Geo-Awareness
Direct Remote Identification (DRI) has become a mandatory requirement for all drones in the c1 drone, c2 drones, c3 drone, C5 and C6 categories. Direct Remote Identification enables drones to broadcast real-time information about their position and operator during flight. This includes drone serial number, UAS operator registration number, geolocation, altitude and timestamp, remote pilot position or take-off location. This information is transmitted continuously during flight via wireless protocols (Bluetooth 4 and 5, Wi-Fi NAN and Beacon) and can be accessed by both authorities and the public using compatible mobile devices.
Geo-Awareness is mandatory for C1, C2 and C3 classes and optional for C5 and C6 categories. The function provides an interface to load and update data containing information on airspace limitations related to UA position and height. It provides a warning alert to the remote pilot when a potential breach of airspace limitations is detected and informs the remote pilot on the UA’s status. Geo-awareness works closely with the optional geofence function, which limits UA access to certain airspace areas or volumes.
CE Marking and Class Identification Labels
In accordance with Regulation (EU) 2019/945, the UAS manufacturer shall affix the CE marking and, when applicable, the UA class identification label and the sound power level indication to each individual product before it is placed on the market. The drone c1 label is the most commonly applicable example, as the c1 drone and c2 drones categories represent the largest share of the EU consumer and prosumer drone market.
For all drone class categories, the manufacturer shall draw up a written EU Declaration of Conformity (DoC) for each product model and keep it together with the technical documentation for 10 years after the product has been placed on the market. For detailed CE marking obligations, see our article on Drone CE Marking – Mandatory Requirements.
Which Class Should I Choose?
The purpose of the UA usage and the technical characteristics determine the drone class of the UA. The purpose of the usage influences the operation category, which is related to the classes of the UA. For example, if you want to do operation close to people, you will need to use a c2 drones category product. In case your goal is an operation over people, you will have to operate with c0 drone or c1 drone.
The c0 vs c1 drone decision is often the first critical threshold for manufacturers – the 250 g MTOM boundary determines whether DRI and geo-awareness become mandatory, which significantly affects the product development and certification scope.
The technical parameters, like MTOM, speed and dimensions also influence the classes. For example, if you want to survey with heavy LiDAR, you will most probably operate with a high MTOM capable UA in c3 drone or C4 class. For specialist industrial use cases requiring trajectory programming or geocaging, c6 drones may be the relevant framework.
EU Drone Regulation – Connection with Regulation (EU) 2019/947
In 2019, the EU published two main UAS regulations: Regulation (EU) 2019/945 and Regulation (EU) 2019/947. The Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945 covers the certification requirements and the requirements for the various UA classes from C0 to C6. The UA Class determines at the same time which operational category the drone class may fly in. The Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 sets out the requirements for UAS operation (open, specific and certified) and registration.
It is important to note that the c2 drone rules in Regulation (EU) 2019/945 apply to the manufacturer at product level – the operational rules for flying a C2 drone in a specific zone are governed separately by 2019/947. These are two distinct but interconnected legal frameworks. See more information in our EU Regulation 2019/945 Explained article.
Summary
Regulation (EU) 2019/945 sets out the framework for UAS classification and the technical requirements of each drone class. The classification of drones has been mandatory since the beginning of 2024. From the c0 drone category through to c6 drones, each class carries distinct technical, Remote ID, geo-awareness and conformity assessment obligations. The c1 drone and c2 drones categories represent the highest market volume and the most common compliance challenges, while the c5 drone and c6 drone categories are reserved for specialist industrial applications. Understanding the applicable drone class is the essential starting point for any manufacturer targeting the EU market. For further guidance, see our articles on Drone CE Marking – Mandatory Requirements and EU Regulation 2019/945 Explained.
