AUVSI Announced as a Blue UAS Recognized Assessor as DIU Adopts Green UAS Certification Pathway

July 16, 2025

ARLINGTON, VA – July 16, 2025 — Recent federal actions including Executive Order 14307, “Unleashing American Drone Dominance,” and the Secretary of Defense’s July 10 memorandum on streamlining drone procurement, have made clear the national priority to accelerate the deployment of secure uncrewed systems. These policies call for streamlined acquisition, the rapid fielding of Group 1 and 2 drones, and expanded access to trusted sourcing pathways.

In support of those goals, the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) has taken two important steps to expand access to secure, NDAA-compliant drones:

Green UAS certification, developed by the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), has been officially adopted as a recognized pathway to achieving Blue UAS Cleared status. Effective immediately, all platforms that have successfully completed the Green UAS certification process are now designated Blue UAS Cleared and are eligible for procurement by the U.S. Department of Defense.
AUVSI has been designated as a Recognized Third-Party Assessor under the Blue UAS program, authorized to support future certifications and participate in the development of updated assessment criteria.

“This is a meaningful step for the broader drone ecosystem,” said Michael Robbins, President and CEO of AUVSI. “The ability to achieve Blue UAS Cleared status through Green UAS certification provides an immediate, standards-based pathway for secure platform adoption. At the same time, work is underway to develop a unified assessment process that will support direct Blue UAS certification through approved third-party assessors. These efforts reflect a shared focus on accelerating access to trusted, domestically sourced systems.”

Importantly, Blue UAS Cleared status also qualifies platforms for inclusion on General Services Administration (GSA) schedules, a critical enabler for broader access and streamlined procurement across the federal government.

Drone manufacturers now have two pathways to Blue UAS Cleared status through AUVSI:

Available now: Complete the Green UAS certification process, which fully satisfies DIU’s current Blue UAS requirements
Coming soon: Apply directly for Blue UAS Cleared status through AUVSI, once DIU finalizes a standardized framework for third-party assessors

Originally developed in coordination with DIU and other stakeholders, Green UAS provides a non-DoD sponsorship pathway for platforms to meet Blue UAS-aligned requirements for cybersecurity, supply chain integrity, and operational safety. Green UAS supports alignment with the Secretary of Defense’s July 10 memo, NDAA Section 848, Executive Order 14115, Executive Order 14307, and related federal cybersecurity guidance.

The list of Green UAS–certified platforms, now recognized as Blue UAS Cleared, is available at: Cleared List – AUVSI

Manufacturers interested in pursuing certification can begin the process at auvsi.org: Request Certification – AUVSI

FAQs

What does it mean that Green UAS is now a pathway to Blue UAS Cleared?

DIU has formally recognized that platforms which complete the AUVSI-administered Green UAS certification process now meet the requirements for Blue UAS Cleared status. Upon completion of the process, the platform will be submitted to DIU for inclusion onto the Blue UAS Cleared list.

Who developed the Green UAS framework?

Green UAS was developed by AUVSI in close coordination with the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), with input from federal agencies, defense officials, and commercial stakeholders. While it mirrors the core standards of the Blue UAS program—including cybersecurity, and supply chain integrity—Green UAS was designed to serve a broader range of end users across the federal, state and local governments, public safety, and critical infrastructure.

Importantly, Green UAS incorporates evaluation criteria that go beyond the traditional DoD operating environment. For example, while DoD systems are often used offline or in air-gapped networks, many public and commercial operators rely on connected platforms, often managed remotely via cloud infrastructure or networked applications. As a result, Green UAS includes connectivity and remote operations assessments to account for risks introduced by these operational use cases.

Why is Blue UAS Cleared status important for drone manufacturers?

Blue UAS Cleared is the DoD’s standard for secure, NDAA-compliant uncrewed platforms. It is often required for procurement by federal agencies, including defense, homeland security, and public safety customers. It also enables platforms to be eligible for listing on GSA schedules, making it easier for agencies, especially those outside of DoD, to purchase pre-approved systems.

Is Green UAS certification the same as Blue UAS certification?

No, but the outcome is now the same. Green UAS is an independently administered process developed in coordination with DIU and aligned to Blue UAS criteria. Completing Green UAS now results in formal Blue UAS Cleared designation.

What changed with this announcement?

Before, only platforms evaluated directly through DIU’s Blue UAS program could become Blue UAS Cleared. Now, platforms that complete the Green UAS process administered by AUVSI will also be recognized as Blue UAS Cleared.

Is Green UAS only relevant to the Department of Defense?

No. While Green UAS aligns with the standards of the DoD’s Blue UAS program, it was intentionally designed to support a broader set of end users across the federal government and beyond. Green UAS is particularly relevant for:

Civilian federal agencies (e.g., DOI, USDA etc.)
State and local governments
Public safety organizations
Critical infrastructure operators
Commercial entities that must meet security and compliance requirements

For any organization that prioritizes supply chain integrity, cybersecurity, and operational safety, Green UAS offers a clear and validated path forward.

Can drone manufacturers now apply directly to AUVSI for Blue UAS certification?

Not yet. DIU is still finalizing the framework that will govern direct Blue UAS assessments by approved third-party assessors like AUVSI. Until then, manufacturers can achieve Blue UAS Cleared status by completing the Green UAS certification.

Per the DIU’s press release, Recognized Assessors will be prepared to receive platforms or components for assessment by September 2025.

How long does the Green UAS certification process take?

Timing can vary depending on platform complexity and documentation readiness, but the process is designed to be efficient and transparent. AUVSI provides detailed guidance to streamline applicant preparation and review.

How do I know whether to reference Blue UAS or Green UAS in procurement?

Procurement decisions depend on the type of agency and applicable policy requirements. For Department of Defense entities, Blue UAS Cleared remains the required standard, DoD buyers must procure from platforms officially listed as Blue UAS Cleared.

However, as of July 2025, platforms that complete the Green UAS certification process are now also recognized as Blue UAS Cleared. This means that non-DoD agencies, including federal civilian agencies, state and local governments, and critical infrastructure operators, can confidently reference either Green UAS or Blue UAS certifications in solicitations and acquisition strategies.

This approach is supported by the joint procurement guidance issued by AUVSI and DIU in 2024, which remains valid today. The guidance includes a helpful chart illustrating that DoD remains Blue-only, while other organizations have the flexibility to use both frameworks.

View the full guidance memo: https://www.auvsi.org/news/auvsi-and-diu-publish-secure-drone-procurement-guidance-for-government-agencies-public-safety-industry

Who developed the Green UAS framework?

Green UAS was developed by AUVSI in close coordination with the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), with input from federal agencies, defense officials, and commercial stakeholders. While it mirrors the core standards of the Blue UAS program, including cybersecurity, and supply chain integrity, Green UAS was designed to serve a broader range of end users across the federal, state and local governments, public safety, and critical infrastructure.

This makes Green UAS especially relevant to non-DoD entities that need to evaluate how platforms behave and transmit data in connected environments, something often outside the scope of defense-focused procurement assessments.

Where can I find a list of platforms that are now Blue UAS Cleared through Green UAS?

A full list is maintained by AUVSI and can be accessed here: https://www.auvsi.org/certification-training/green-uas/clearned-list/

Where do I start if I want to pursue Green UAS certification?

You can begin the process and learn more at: https://www.auvsi.org/greenuas