Defense Innovation Unit Hosts First Annual Blue UAS Refresh Event

Military End-Users Evaluate Over 35 Drone Platforms at Twentynine Palms

(all images credit Defense Innovation Unit)

On November 8, the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) held the first annual Blue UAS Refresh event at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, California. The three-day event brought together more than 40 military drone end-users from across the Department of Defense (DoD). Participants evaluated over 35 uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) and capabilities designed to help the DoD quickly scale and deploy commercial drone technologies.

The Refresh is part of the DIU’s effort to ensure that the Blue UAS list is dynamic and valuable – evaluating platforms to ensure that those on the list have continued to evolve and maintain cutting edge functionality in a rapidly changing environment.

Real-World Testing and Feedback

The challenge featured over 150 day and night flights, with each platform completing an average of six flights. Participants tested a variety of platforms, including First Person View drones and UAS classified as Group 1, Group 2, and Group 3, based on their weight and operational altitude. Components such as sensors, radios, and gimbals were also assessed.

Scenarios were designed to replicate real-world challenges faced by military operators. In addition, evaluators observed how UAS performed under Electronic Warfare conditions, including responses to jamming that disrupted command and control links.

Participants provided valuable feedback on key performance indicators such as modularity, ease of use, mission planning, and suitability for addressing specific capability gaps. Commercial partners had a unique opportunity to receive direct, unfiltered input from operational end-users.

Streamlining UAS Procurement for the DoD

Today, the DoD procures UAS through three main pathways:

1. Programs of Record, which often lead to systems that lag behind the technological frontier.
2. Exception to Policy Procedures, which require extensive time and paperwork.
3. The Blue UAS Program, an initiative by DIU to rapidly vet and verify commercial UAS for DoD use.

The Blue UAS List offers a policy-approved roster of drones that meet the diverse needs of DoD users. Drones on the list have a Global Authority to Operate (ATO), eliminating additional paperwork for deployment worldwide. This program aligns with mandates in the 2020 and 2023 National Defense Authorization Acts (NDAA) and the 2024 American Security Drone Act.

An updated Blue UAS list will be announced on a rolling basis starting December 2024. Companies not renewed for the Blue UAS list may transition to the Green UAS List, a certification program launched by the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) in 2023.

Strengthening the UAS Industrial Base

While the DIU’s Blue sUAS list has made it easier for some platforms to be purchased by government agencies, some NDAA-compliant US manufacturers say that the list disadvantages those companies whose platforms are not suitable for defense but may be used by other government agencies.  That’s because the Blue sUAS list has been adopted by other government departments, including the GSA, and even some states to indicate secure platforms.

The Green UAS Certification builds on DIU’s efforts by serving the commercial and non-defense drone community in an effort to fill that gap. Green UAS certification ensures cybersecurity and NDAA supply chain compliance. Certified drones with a willing DoD sponsor can transition from the Green UAS list to the Blue UAS list, further integrating them into defense operations.

DIU’s collaboration with AUVSI underscores its commitment to bolstering the UAS industrial base while addressing the unique challenges of military drone procurement and deployment.

For more information on DIU’s Blue UAS program, visit DIU.mil. Learn about AUVSI’s Green UAS Certification at AUVSI.org.

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