The Protection Innovation Unit (DIU) has introduced substantial modifications to its Blue sUAS program, now instantly recognizing Inexperienced UAS licensed platforms as eligible for Blue UAS Cleared standing. These updates symbolize a extra inclusive strategy to certifying safe unmanned plane methods (UAS) for governmental and Division of Protection (DoD) use.
Main Context: Hegseth’s Memo and Program Switch to DCMA
In July 2025, a pivotal memo from Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth injected new urgency into U.S. drone procurement. The memo responded to the accelerating tempo of world drone manufacturing and battlefield innovation, calling for speedy scaling of American-made drones for navy use and the elimination of procurement roadblocks. To allow swifter drone acquisition and assist for home producers, the memo transferred administration duty for the Blue sUAS record from DIU to the Protection Contract Administration Company (DCMA), efficient January 1, 2026. DCMA’s larger assets and staffing are supposed to deal with bottlenecks and open the record to extra certified U.S. drone corporations.
The earlier system, which was solely managed by DIU, usually restricted entry for NDAA-compliant U.S. producers resulting from constrained analysis capability. Below the brand new framework, DCMA will oversee a “two-tier” system, consisting of a broader Blue UAS Cleared Record and a extra choose Blue UAS Choose Record, streamlining approvals whereas supporting nationwide safety goals.
Key Updates from DIU
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Inexperienced UAS Certification Now Acknowledged: Platforms reaching Inexperienced UAS certification—managed by the Affiliation for Uncrewed Automobile Programs Worldwide (AUVSI)—are actually mechanically added to the Blue UAS Cleared Record. This goals to speed up deployment and increase the vary of compliant sUAS choices.
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Streamlined Third-Social gathering Evaluation: DIU has established acknowledged third-party assessors, together with MTSI, AUVSI, and Darkish Wolf Options to conduct safety evaluations, decreasing delays in approval and fostering a multi-stakeholder validation course of.
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Forthcoming Guidelines: DIU is finalizing a standardized Blue UAS Guidelines for use throughout companies, additional clarifying certification procedures.
Michael Robbins, President and CEO of AUVSI, famous:
“This can be a significant step for the broader drone ecosystem. The power to realize Blue UAS Cleared standing by way of Inexperienced UAS certification supplies a right away, standards-based pathway for safe platform adoption. On the similar time, work is underway to develop a unified evaluation course of that may assist direct Blue UAS certification by way of accredited third-party assessors. These efforts replicate a shared give attention to accelerating entry to trusted, domestically sourced methods.”
Implications for Producers and Businesses
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Simpler Entry, Sooner Approval: Certified American drone corporations can now entry the federal government market extra readily, due to the expanded position for third-party assessors and DCMA’s devoted assets.
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Broader, Extra Aggressive Market: The 2-tier system ensures extra drones are accredited and accessible, whereas a choose subset focuses on high-priority navy wants, encouraging competitors and innovation.
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Person-Pushed Enhancements: Upcoming digital platforms will function person rankings from discipline operators, additional guiding company purchases and steady product enchancment.
AUVSI’s Position with Inexperienced UAS Certification
AUVSI’s new standing as a Acknowledged Assessor—alongside the incorporation of Inexperienced UAS licensed platforms—ensures that drones assembly complete safety, provide chain, and connectivity requirements can transfer shortly by way of the approval pipeline. The Inexperienced UAS course of will provide quick eligibility for the Blue UAS Cleared Record upon certification. Discover AUVSI’s steering doc right here.
Trying Ahead
These measures replicate a decisive step in direction of harmonizing industrial and protection UAS requirements, addressing nationwide calls for for velocity, flexibility, and the speedy fielding of trusted know-how. By leveraging DCMA’s assets and a reformed certification pathway, the Pentagon positions itself to fulfill trendy battlefield necessities and assist home drone innovation at scale.
