The Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), with validation from the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), has released a memo providing procurement guidance and recommendations for federal government agencies, state, local, and tribal government agencies, public safety agencies, and private industry using drones for sensitive missions.
This memo follows the enactment of the American Security Drone Act (ASDA) in December 2023 and the subsequent release of cybersecurity guidance for Chinese-manufactured unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) by the FBI and CISA in January 2024.
Casie Ocaña, Director of Trusted Programs at AUVSI, commented, “We’ve seen an increased focus from industry and end-users on drone security, but both private and public entities face challenges in determining which regulations, standards, or guidance they must or should abide by in their procurement processes. Our goal is for this document to provide clarity on technology solutions that meet users’ needs.”
The memo’s release coincides with a recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between DIU and AUVSI, establishing a process for drone component manufacturers holding Green UAS certification to share their data directly with DIU. This collaboration aims to streamline the inclusion of certified components on DIU’s Blue UAS Framework list, expediting certification reviews for component manufacturers.
David Michelson, Director of the autonomy portfolio at DIU, stated, “The intent behind our effort with AUVSI is to increase availability of NDAA verified UAS components to the uncrewed industry at large and streamline the process for Blue UAS consideration. As we look ahead to a refresh of vendors and platforms on the Blue UAS Cleared List later this year, DIU is prioritizing UAS that have already been vetted as meeting the highest levels of cybersecurity and NDAA supply chain requirements.”
AUVSI anticipates announcing the certification of additional UAS platforms as Green approved in the coming weeks, broadening the range of vetted UAS available for public safety, critical infrastructure, and agriculture sectors.
Memo Details
In December 2023, the American Security Drone Act was passed as part of the National Defense Authorization Act. Subsequently, the FBI and CISA issued a joint memo in January 2024 on cybersecurity guidance for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) concerning critical infrastructure.
Since these developments, federal, state, local agencies, and private industries engaged in sensitive missions have increasingly focused on purchasing secure drones. However, navigating the regulations, standards, and guidance required for procurement processes remains challenging. This lack of clarity has led many entities to rely on the Defense Innovation Unit’s (DIU) Blue UAS Cleared List for guidance, despite its primary focus on Department of Defense (DoD) needs.
About Blue UAS
The DIU’s Blue UAS program curates a list of commercial UAS technology compliant with the National Defense Authorization Acts (NDAA) for FY 2020 and FY 2023. This program primarily serves DoD users, ensuring that UAS meet stringent cybersecurity and supply chain standards. Congress has not mandated DIU to assess UAS for non-DoD purposes.
About Green UAS
In collaboration with DIU, AUVSI developed the Green UAS program to address the needs of non-DoD agencies. This program assesses and certifies additional UAS platforms and components, providing secure options for federal, state, and local governments. The Green UAS program mirrors the Blue UAS certification process but expands to include assessments for remote operations, connectivity, and corporate cyber hygiene.
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