American Robotics’ Optimus drone has achieved Blue List status from the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA), confirming its designation as a secure, compliant unmanned aircraft system for government procurement. The approval positions the Optimus drone within the Department of War’s authoritative directory of NDAA-compliant commercial UAS, enabling federal agencies to streamline acquisition and accelerate deployment timelines.
The Blue List approval validates the Optimus drone’s compliance with rigorous standards for cybersecurity, supply-chain integrity, and operational reliability. According to Ondas Holdings Inc. Chairman and CEO Eric Brock, “This Blue List designation marks an important milestone for Ondas and American Robotics. It validates the Optimus drone as a secure, reliable, and operationally proven platform for defense use.”
Technical Foundation of the Optimus Drone System
The Optimus drone system centers on an automated drone-in-a-box dock engineered for continuous 24/7 autonomous operations. The dock houses 11 onboard batteries and accommodates up to nine mission payloads, delivering extended endurance without requiring human intervention between flights. A key technical feature—an integrated mechanical arm—enables autonomous payload exchange between missions, allowing operators to shift mission profiles in real time while maintaining persistent aerial coverage.
This architecture reflects American Robotics’ operationally proven foundation, with autonomous flight capabilities refined through years of field deployment and regulatory validation. The design supports the system’s readiness to operate within defense and government environments requiring the highest standards of security and operational continuity.
The Blue List approval streamlines federal acquisition workflows, reducing bureaucratic friction and enabling government agencies to accelerate contracting timelines for deployment across national-security and critical-infrastructure missions. The designation leverages the former DIU Blue UAS Cleared List framework, establishing a centralized rapid-acquisition marketplace for compliant commercial unmanned systems.
Ondas stated that the achievement reinforces its strategy to deliver scalable, compliant unmanned systems for government, defense, and infrastructure applications, positioning the company to support expanding U.S. and allied defense initiatives requiring secure autonomous aerial capabilities.
More information is available from Ondas’ website.
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Ian McNabb is a journalist focusing on drone technology and lifestyle content at Dronelife. He is based between Boston and NH and, when not writing, enjoys hiking and Boston area sports.
