((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 .