Streamlining the Process for Turning Blue UAS a Reality
The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) is working on a new checklist to clarify the Blue Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) certification process, aiming to make it easier and more cost-effective for companies to pursue Blue UAS certification. This initiative comes as a result of the management of the Blue UAS program being transferred from the DIU to the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) on January 1, 2026.
The transfer of management is part of a broader effort to meet the rapidly evolving technological and security demands of the Department of Defense (DoD). Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth issued a memo calling for the expansion and scaling up of American-made drones for military use. The change is expected to provide federal agencies with a larger and more diverse pool of vetted platforms for drone procurement.
Green UAS, which require comparable security and supply chain vetting as Blue UAS, serve as a prerequisite step towards achieving Blue UAS certification. Green UAS certification validates that a drone meets baseline cybersecurity requirements, enabling it to be further vetted and potentially elevated to Blue UAS status.
The new framework aims to streamline drone acquisition for the DoD by providing an established cybersecurity baseline. Drones that have successfully completed the Green UAS certification process will now automatically be added to the Blue UAS list. This process reduces duplication of effort and accelerates the fielding of drones meeting strict security and performance standards.
The review process for Blue UAS will now be done by third-party assessors, including AUVSI, MTSI, and Dark Wolf Solutions. A two-tier system will be implemented: a broader Blue UAS Cleared List and a more selective Blue UAS Select List. This change is intended to speed up reviews in the Blue UAS certification process and make more drones available to government agencies.
Green UAS certification is a foundational cybersecurity compliance milestone required for drone companies to sell their drones to government agencies, law enforcement, and other critical sectors. It serves as a prerequisite step or "on-ramp" towards achieving Blue UAS certification, which is the DoD's approved status for drones that can be procured and operated by U.S. military and government users.
For government agencies, particularly within the DoD, having drones with Blue UAS certification ensures secure, reliable, and National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)-compliant unmanned systems are available for procurement. This certification impacts procurement by expanding the pool of vetted, secure drone options that meet law, policy, and cybersecurity mandates.
One example of a drone on the Blue UAS list is BRINC's Lemur 2. The creation of the Blue UAS Cleared List and the higher-tier Blue UAS Select List offers agencies flexibility in selecting drones tailored to mission needs while assuring supply chain and cyber risk mitigation.
In summary, the streamlined Blue UAS certification process is a significant step towards boosting drone procurement for the U.S. government. This tiered certification structure enhances the speed, security, and reliability of drone acquisition for U.S. government and military use, supporting evolving mission requirements and supply chain security mandates.
- To ensure the safety and security of drones used by the Defense Department, a two-tier system for Blue UAS certification has been implemented, which includes a broader Blue UAS Cleared List and a more selective Blue UAS Select List.
- To sell drones to government agencies, law enforcement, and other critical sectors, drone companies need to first meet the cybersecurity requirements of the Green UAS certification, which serves as a prerequisite step towards achieving Blue UAS certification.
- The new checklist developed by the Defense Innovation Unit aims to make the Blue UAS certification process more cost-effective, and it includes the use of third-party assessors to review drones for certification, such as AUVSI, MTSI, and Dark Wolf Solutions.
