However, FAA does not govern military aircraft. The military has their own rules and regulations, but the military follows FAA regulations when flying in National Airspace.

The relationship between the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the U.S. Military is one of cooperation rather than direct regulatory "authority." The FAA's primary mission is to regulate civil aviation and ensure the safety of the National Airspace System (NAS). While the military operates its own aircraft under Department of Defense (DoD) regulations and has its own safety and maintenance standards, it must still comply with FAA air traffic control (ATC) instructions when flying within the NAS to ensure they don't collide with civilian planes. The FAA provides navigation and ATC services for both civil and military aircraft. However, the military has the authority to deviate from standard FAA rules during "contingency operations" or in restricted/prohibited airspace designated for combat training. Essentially, while the military follows FAA "rules of the road" in shared public skies for safety, the FAA does not "govern" military aircraft design, pilot certification, or internal mission protocols, as those fall under the independent jurisdiction of the respective branches of the armed forces.