Gemfan is a Chinese propeller manufacturer, and its propellers are made in China. For US programs subject to NDAA covered-country flow-down requirements — which reach individual components, propellers included — that typically rules foreign-made parts like these out. Whether a specific Gemfan part is permitted on a specific program depends on your contract's flow-downs, so confirm with your compliance team.
Why country of origin is the deciding factor
NDAA covered-country and flow-down requirements ban federal agencies from purchasing or operating UAS — and their components — from covered foreign entities, and they extend to federal grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements. Prime contractors flow the same requirements down to their suppliers, and compliance is required at the component level, not just the system level. Our NDAA covered-country explainer covers the mechanics.
The result: for a program under these flow-downs, the question isn't whether a propeller performs well — it's where it and its materials come from, and whether you can document that.
The practical problem: platforms were designed around these props
Gemfan-class tri-blades are what a large share of US FPV and Group 2 airframes were designed and tuned around. That is exactly why the sourcing restriction hurts: dropping the part means either redesigning and re-tuning the platform, or finding a domestic part of the same diameter, pitch, blade count and mount.
Where the Anvil line overlaps
Several Anvil families are built to size classes that Gemfan parts are commonly flown in. Drop-in means same diameter, pitch, blade count, and mount.
- 10×5×3 (ANV-P1050) — the 1050-class cinelifter tri-blade (not the 1050W wide-blade class).
- 8×4×3 (ANV-P8040) — the 8040-3 class.
- 10×5.1×2 (ANV-F1051-2) and 10×5.1×3 (ANV-F1051-3) — the 1051-class folding size, quoted with a 2-blade or 3-blade coupling.
- 3.5×3×3 (ANV-D3530) and 3.5×2.4×5 (ANV-D3524-5) — 90 mm ducted, the same diameter, pitch and blade count as Gemfan's 90 mm ducted 3-blade and 5-blade parts; the M5 or T-mount hub is specified at quote.
- 5.0×4.0×3 (ANV-P5040) — the 5×4×3 class, in polycarbonate.
Gemfan sizes the catalog does not carry — 5×4.3, 5.1×4.6, 12-inch and larger, and other pitches — are quoted as custom programs. The full line is on the propeller catalog.
If Gemfan parts are on your BOM
- Inventory the sizes and part numbers you currently fly.
- Vet domestic replacements against the component-level compliance checklist — a US label alone is not a US supply chain.
- Send us the part numbers — we'll confirm fitment and come back with a quote.