Becoming Blue UAS Is about to Get a Whole Lot Easier

Companies are going to have an easier time getting their drones added to the Blue UAS list.

That’s because drones certified as Green UAS will now automatically be added to the Blue UAS list.

Under this new framework, there will be a “two-tier” system: a broader Blue UAS Cleared List and a more selective Blue UAS Select List. This structure aims to accelerate drone procurement and meet the rapidly evolving technological and security demands of the DoD.

BRINC’s Lemur 2 is on the Blue UAS list

This change will make more drones available to government agencies, and make it easier for drone companies to get their drones certified as Blue UAS.

Two other things are going to make it faster and easier to become Blue UAS.

The first is that Blue UAS reviews will now be done by third-party assessors, including AUVSI, MTSI, and Dark Wolf Solutions, making the review process a lot faster.

And second is that the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), which oversees the Blue UAS program, is working on a checklist that will clarify the Blue UAS certification process, helping further speed reviews.

Why This Matters

These changes are big for two reasons:

• It will be easier for companies. Drones that have Green UAS certification can now pursue Blue UAS certification more easily and at lower cost, thanks to a streamlined fast-track process.
• Federal agencies will have more options. Federal agencies restricted to Blue UAS-certified drones will benefit from a larger and more diverse pool of vetted platforms, accelerating deployment and mission readiness.

Up until now, the Blue UAS list has been exclusively managed by the Department of Defense’s Defense Innovation Unit (DIU).

This centralized management created a bottleneck in the certification process, with some companies experiencing lengthy delays—waiting months or even years for their drones to be reviewed and approved.

Now that’s changing. With the recent update, Green UAS certification is now recognized as an authorized pathway for Blue UAS clearance.

That means drones that have successfully completed the Green UAS certification process—which includes rigorous cybersecurity, supply chain, and operational standards—will now automatically be added to the Blue UAS list.

Recent Memo Drove the Change

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth recently issued a memo calling for the Pentagon to expand and scale up American-made drones for military use.

In the memo, he outlined the need to remove roadblocks slowing down drone acquisition and deployment.

To help speed reviews, he transferred management of the Blue UAS program from the DIU to the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA). This move will help ease bottlenecks in the review process, since the DCMA has greater resources and staffing than the DIU.

DCMA will take over the Blue UAS program on January 1, 2026.