Breaking Down the Blue UAS List

No other country has a larger share of the global drone market than China. According to the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International, companies based in China and subsidized by the Chinese government control 90% of the consumer drone market, 70% or more of the enterprise market, and 92% of the state and local first responder market. Chinese company DJI owns a large majority of that market share.

With China owning such a large share of the global drone market, the U.S. has taken steps to strengthen its own drone market as unmanned systems have become critical for enhancing military capabilities and ensuring national security.

One measure the U.S. DoW took in 2020 was ordering its Defense Innovation Unit to create the Blue UAS program. The program’s purpose is to create and maintain a list of trusted, secure, and NDAA-compliant small unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to the U.S. government.

Nearly six years since the Blue UAS program was introduced, the list has grown to over 39 certified systems and 165 components. This report will explore everything Blue UAS-related, including why the list matters, what systems are getting approved, and much more.

To hear from DoW leaders who work in the UAS space, including with the Blue UAS list, join IDGA at this year’s Next Gen UAS Summit. During the two-day summit, June 23-24, we will dive into all things UAS, including CCA programs.