Blue List drones are commercial unmanned aircraft that the Department of Defense has pre-approved for government purchase after putting them through security, supply chain, and cybersecurity review. Federal agencies use the Blue UAS Cleared List to skip individual audits on every drone they buy, and as of mid-2025 the Defense Innovation Unit had processed platforms from 81 unique companies through the program.1Defense Innovation Unit. DIU’s Blue UAS List To Transition to DCMA The list also increasingly shapes purchasing at the state and local level, because federal grant dollars carry the same restrictions.
What Qualifies a Drone for the Blue List
Getting onto the list means passing a three-part assessment. A company analysis reviews ownership and control structures to confirm the manufacturer is not a covered foreign entity. A supply chain review goes beyond paperwork: assessors physically tear the drone down to trace the origin of critical electronic components. A cybersecurity assessment adds penetration testing, vulnerability scanning, and code analysis measured against the DoD’s Risk Management Framework and DISA Security Technical Implementation Guides.2Defense Innovation Unit. DIU Names Recognized Assessors to Support Blue UAS NDAA Compliance
Six Recognized Assessors now conduct these technical evaluations, and DIU reviews their reports and makes the final certification call. Manufacturers apply through the Blue Portal and contract directly with an assessor for the review. Once a platform is on the list, DIU uses automated tools to scan software updates, which lets new firmware reach approved status in 24 to 96 hours rather than the 12 to 18 months traditional programs require.3Defense Innovation Unit. Blue UAS To Evolve To Meet Broader DoD Needs That turnaround matters: a drone waiting on firmware approval is a drone that cannot fly.
Which Drones Are on the List
The current list spans dozens of platforms across mission profiles. Skydio’s X10D is one of the most widely recognized entries and replaced the earlier X2D. Parrot’s ANAFI USA, assembled in Massachusetts, is a common choice for portable thermal imaging and search and rescue. Red Cat’s Teal 2 fills a small tactical role and is available through the GSA Advantage portal. The full roster covers everything from single-operator reconnaissance quadcopters to heavy-lift platforms for sensor payloads or resupply, plus systems built for extended endurance or harsh-weather work.
Every platform passed the same core review, so choosing among them is a mission-fit question rather than a compliance question. The list changes as manufacturers submit new platforms and updated versions, and DIU publishes the current roster at diu.mil/blue-uas-cleared-list.4Defense Innovation Unit. Blue UAS Cleared Drone List Verify the specific model and firmware version before you order. A drone cleared last year may have been superseded, and outdated firmware on an approved airframe does not guarantee continued compliance.
Buying a Blue List Drone
Federal procurement typically runs through one of two channels. The GSA Advantage portal at gsaadvantage.gov carries Blue UAS models from manufacturers holding GSA Schedule contracts, with pre-negotiated pricing and vendor qualifications that let agencies skip full competitive bidding for orders within the schedule’s terms. For smaller buys, the government-wide micro-purchase threshold rose to $15,000 on October 1, 2025, and the government purchase card is the preferred payment method at or below that amount.5GSA SmartPay. Effective October 1, 2025, FAR Amendment: Micro-Purchase Threshold Limit Increased to $15,000 Individual agencies can set internal card limits below the government-wide maximum, so confirm your agency’s threshold before buying.
For larger acquisitions, Blanket Purchase Agreements structured specifically for Blue UAS and Select List compliant drones are published on SAM.gov. These BPAs are pre-competed contract vehicles that let buyers order repeatedly from approved vendors without re-competing each purchase.6SAM.gov. UAS Drone Blue Cleared or Select Lists Compliant BPA
Whichever channel you use, verify the exact model and firmware version against the current cleared list before placing the order. DoD’s purchase card policy explicitly limits UAS purchases to platforms on the Blue UAS Cleared List or otherwise approved under applicable NDAA procedures.7Defense Pricing and Contracting. Updated Unmanned Aircraft System Governmentwide Commercial Purchase Card Prohibited Purchase Limited Exception to Policy Requirements Buying something that looks like a cleared model but runs unapproved firmware creates compliance problems after the fact.
When State and Local Agencies Have to Use the List
State and local governments are not directly bound by the NDAA. A city police department spending its own municipal funds faces no federal mandate to buy Blue List drones. Federal money changes that. The American Security Drone Act prohibits federal grants or contracts from being used to purchase or operate drones from covered foreign countries, which means any police, fire, or emergency management department relying on federal funding has to use NDAA-compliant systems or risk losing access to those funds.8Acquisition.gov. Federal Acquisition Regulation Part 40 – Information Security and Supply Chain Security
Grant programs enforce this directly. The Department of Homeland Security’s Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems Grant Program, allocated up to $250 million for fiscal year 2026, includes provisions prohibiting covered equipment and imposes compliance requirements on grant recipients and pass-through entities.9Federal Emergency Management Agency. Notice of Funding Opportunity Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems Grant Program Similar restrictions appear across DHS and DOJ funding streams.
Some states have gone further on their own. Florida passed a 2022 law banning state and local agencies from operating drones made by “foreign countries of concern,” which forced agencies to ground existing fleets and buy from approved manufacturers. Plenty of departments without a legal mandate adopt Blue UAS or Green UAS platforms anyway, to preserve eligibility for federal funding and stay ahead of future restrictions.
The Green UAS Pathway for Manufacturers and Commercial Buyers
The Blue List was built for defense and government buyers. The Green UAS program, run by the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International, extends a similar security framework to commercial and non-defense operators. As of July 16, 2025, DIU formally recognizes Green UAS certification as an authorized pathway to Blue UAS Cleared status.10AUVSI. Green UAS
Green UAS offers two tiers. Green UAS Cleared is the faster, simplified track and evaluates product and device security plus supply chain risk management; it aligns directly with Blue UAS Cleared standards and is the right choice for manufacturers whose main goal is getting onto the Blue List. Green UAS Certified is the comprehensive version, adding corporate cyber hygiene and remote operations and connectivity reviews on top of the Cleared requirements, and is aimed at companies supporting critical infrastructure or high-assurance commercial markets.
For manufacturers, the practical benefit is real. Rather than waiting for a direct DIU assessment, a company can pursue Green UAS Cleared certification through AUVSI and use the resulting evaluation as the basis for Blue List inclusion. For commercial operators who never plan to sell to the DoD, the program still provides third-party security validation that tracks federal standards.
The DCMA Handoff on January 1, 2026
The Blue UAS Cleared List is moving from DIU to the Defense Contract Management Agency, with a formal transfer date of January 1, 2026.11Defense Contract Management Agency. DCMA’s Blue List Scales Innovation, Warfighter Lethality DIU stays involved as a standards partner, but DCMA takes over day-to-day list management, supplier onboarding, and expansion. A pilot phase launched in October 2025 to test workflows with select units before the formal handoff.
For manufacturers already on the list, the transition should not require re-certification. For agencies buying drones, the main change is that DCMA rather than DIU becomes the point of contact for list questions and platform verification. The URL where the cleared list lives may shift after the handoff, so check DCMA channels alongside diu.mil once the transfer is complete.