Blue UAS to Green UAS: The Evolution of Secure Drone Certification
Overview
Inspired Flight, a prominent drone manufacturer based in the U.S., has made significant advancements in the unmanned aerial systems (UAS) sector by creating NDAA-compliant drones like the IF1200A and IF800 Tomcat. These drones cater to a variety of applications in industries such as energy, construction, public safety, and infrastructure inspection. Notably, Inspired Flight holds certifications under both the Blue UAS and Green UAS programs, positioning itself to meet the diverse requirements of government and commercial clients.
The Distinction Between Blue UAS and Green UAS Certifications
The Blue UAS program, orchestrated by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), aims to validate drones for usage within the Department of Defense (DoD). This program ensures adherence to strict cybersecurity protocols and NDAA regulations, confirming that the drones on the Blue UAS list are appropriate for sensitive military tasks. However, the Blue UAS configurations do not feature compliance for Remote ID, a critical component for operations sanctioned by the FAA. Adam Bilmes, Inspired Flight’s Senior Director of Business Development, highlights that the Blue UAS initiative is strictly tailored for DoD warfighting users, stating, “The ‘Blue UAS-approved’ configuration is strictly regulated, with DoD-specific encryption and no Remote ID capability.”
Expanding Reach with Green UAS Certification
To accommodate market demands extending beyond defense, the Green UAS program was introduced by the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) in collaboration with DIU. The Green UAS certification upholds rigorous security standards while integrating features designed for commercial applications and non-defense government entities. Bilmes asserts, “The growing presence of Green UAS in the market underscores the recognition and investment by various stakeholders to adopt NDAA-compliant and U.S.-produced technology.”
Strategic Shift from Blue to Green
Recently, Inspired Flight and several other NDAA-compliant manufacturers were removed from the Blue UAS program during a competitive refresh by DIU. This update focused on platforms that fulfill the evolving operational demands of the DoD. Bilmes explains that the evaluation criterion emphasized the volume of sales made directly to DoD end-users, a segment that constitutes less than 5% of Inspired Flight’s business. As a result, the company’s systems were omitted, similar to many commercial-first firms. Importantly, these changes reflect the shifting priorities within DIU rather than any downgrading of security or performance by Inspired Flight.
The transition to Green UAS certification for Inspired Flight is viewed as a strategic alignment with market trends. This change enables their drones to serve commercial sectors while retaining high-security credentials. Bilmes notes, “The process was seamless as we transitioned directly from Blue to Green, ensuring our systems fulfilled the Green UAS’s security and version control standards.”
Dual Certification Benefits
Despite less than 5% of its business being direct sales to DoD, Inspired Flight’s dual certification allows it to effectively cater to both military and civilian markets. “Existing DoD clients that acquired our systems under Blue UAS automatically receive a two-year extension of their Blue UAS status,” Bilmes states. “New clients can continue to order and utilize our systems through the ETP waiver process.”
The Future of Secure Drone Technology
Looking ahead, Inspired Flight anticipates that Green UAS certification will become a fundamental aspect of secure drone technology for commercial and non-defense applications. Bilmes envisions increased government and industry acceptance of Green UAS as essential for those in the commercial drone sector. He praises AUVSI’s commitment, stating, “As the principal architect, AUVSI is fully endorsing this framework.” Inspired Flight aims to harness this transition to enhance innovation tailored to commercial requirements, emphasizing user experience and launching advanced cloud solutions aimed at commercial enterprises.
Conclusion
As geopolitical dynamics escalate the need for secure U.S.-made drones, certification programs like Green UAS represent a pivotal evolution in drone certification frameworks. By merging defense-grade security with commercial usability, these certifications pave the way for U.S. manufacturers like Inspired Flight to lead in the development of secure drone technologies across multiple sectors. As summarized by Bilmes, “Green UAS addresses the challenge of creating a vetted list of secure systems designed for both commercial and non-defense government customers.”
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