Major Changes Coming to the Pentagon’s Blue sUAS Drone Program
The Pentagon is making sweeping changes to its Blue sUAS program that could transform how the military buys and uses small drones. These reforms, outlined in a new Defense Secretary memo from July 2025, aim to speed up drone purchases and support American companies while keeping our forces secure.
What is Blue sUAS?
The Blue sUAS program started in 2020 as the Pentagon’s approved list of small drones that are safe to use and don’t come from China or other potentially risky countries. Think of it as a “good housekeeping seal” for military drones – if a drone is on the Blue list, commanders know it meets security standards.
However, while the DIU Blue List had become a “good housekeeping seal,” its scope has been limited and the department’s capacity to vet products has been constrained. This has created significant problems for American drone manufacturers that meet all legal requirements but can’t get on the list because their products don’t align with the latest warfighter priorities.
The Problem with the Current System
The Blue sUAS program has been undergoing significant changes over the last few months, with reforms building momentum since early 2025. Many US-based drone manufacturers that fully comply with the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) have long complained that the Blue sUAS list unfairly disadvantages them. The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) has limited staffing and dedicated funding for the Blue List.
This capacity problem has hurt some NDAA-compliant, US-based drone companies like Terraview and Skyfish, which were told DIU “lacked the funding and resources to evaluate their platforms” when they applied for inclusion. The situation worsened when government agencies like the General Services Administration (GSA) and state governments began using the Blue sUAS list as their standard for drone purchases. This created a bottleneck where qualified American manufacturers were shut out of government contracts simply because DIU didn’t have resources to evaluate their products.
“The Blue sUAS list was never designed to be a gate-keeper for federal government procurement,” said Bruce Myers, Terraview CEO, in a 2022 statement. “It’s actually stifling competition”.
Blue sUAS Program Refoms
The changes have been coming over the last few months, with DIU announcing initial reforms earlier this year. The transition to DCMA and other changes outlined in the Hegseth memo represent the latest developments in this ongoing transformation.
New Management Structure
The biggest change is who runs the program. Right now, the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) manages everything. Starting January 1, 2026, the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) will take over as the main manager, with DIU providing support. DCMA has “more funding and more people than DIU, so it is better positioned to take on the responsibility of the Blue List,” said AUVSI CEO Michael Robbins.
Two-Tier System
Instead of one Blue list, there will now be two:
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Blue UAS Cleared List: A broader catalog of approved drones that meet basic security requirements
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Blue UAS Select List: The “best of the best” drones that fill specific military needs
Third-Party Testing
DIU previously tested all drones themselves, which creates bottlenecks. On June 2, 2025 the DIU put out a call for approved third-party companies called “Recognized Assessors” to test drones for security compliance. Drone makers will pay for their own testing, which should speed up the approval process significantly.
How This Helps Warfighters
Faster Approvals
The new rules set strict deadlines for decisions. Certification requests must get answers within 14 days, compared to months under the old system. Weapons approvals for small drones will take 30 days instead of 90-120 days.
More Options
With third-party testing and streamlined processes, the Pentagon expects “hundreds of companies” to seek approval in the first wave. This means soldiers and Marines will have many more drone options to choose from.
Better Feedback System
The new digital platform will include user ratings and reviews from troops in the field. This real-time feedback will help other units know which drones work best for different missions.
What This Means for Drone Companies
Lower Barriers to Entry
Small drone companies no longer need to wait in a single line at DIU. They can work with multiple approved testing companies to get their products certified faster. This addresses the long-standing complaint that “DIU has shown that they’re a little bit hamstrung because of their [internal] funding levels, their personnel levels”.
Market Expansion
The two-tier system opens up more opportunities. Companies that might not make it onto the elite “Select” list can still reach military customers through the broader “Cleared” list. This should help address the concerns of NDAA-compliant manufacturers who have been excluded from government contracts.
Financial Support
The Pentagon is exploring advance purchase agreements and direct loans to help American drone companies scale up production.
Key Deadlines to Watch
Several important milestones are coming up:
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August 2025: Pentagon presents financing options for drone companies
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September 2025: Military services must establish experimental drone units
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November 2025: Three national drone training ranges will be designated
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January 2026: DCMA takes over Blue list management and launches new digital platform
Addressing Past Concerns
The new system directly addresses many of the complaints raised by American manufacturers. The expansion to third-party assessors should eliminate the resource constraints that prevented qualified companies from getting evaluated. The broader “Cleared List” provides a pathway for NDAA-compliant companies that don’t need the highest level of military certification but still want to sell to government agencies.
Challenges Ahead
- Resource Questions
Moving responsibility to DCMA means that agency needs proper funding and staff to handle the expanded workload. The Defense Secretary’s memo promises “proper resourcing,” but the details will matter. - Quality Control
With multiple companies doing testing instead of just DIU, maintaining consistent standards will be crucial. The Pentagon plans to address this through standardized checklists and regular audits. - Cyber Security
As more drones and companies join the program, protecting sensitive information becomes more complex. The new digital platform will need strong cybersecurity measures.
The Bottom Line
These Blue sUAS program reforms represent the biggest overhaul of military drone purchasing since the program began. If successful, they could dramatically increase the number of approved drones available to troops while strengthening America’s domestic drone industry. The goal is to achieve “small UAS domain dominance” by the end of 2027 – meaning American forces will have the best small drones in the world, available quickly when needed.
For the drone industry, this represents a major opportunity to reach military customers more easily and quickly than ever before. Importantly, it addresses long-standing concerns from NDAA-compliant American manufacturers who have been disadvantaged by the limited capacity of the current system.
For warfighters, it means access to cutting-edge technology that can save lives and complete missions more effectively. The success of these reforms will depend on smooth execution and adequate funding. But if everything goes according to plan, the changes could position America as the global leader in military drone technology while ensuring our forces have the tools they need to stay ahead of potential adversaries.
Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, Email Miriam.
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