Know the Difference.
Understanding the differences between NDAA-compliant, Blue UAS, and Green UAS certifications is critical for selecting the right drone platform for your agency's mission requirements.
Who It's For
State/local government, public safety, commercial, federal contractors
Requirements
No components from Foreign Adversary Countries
China
Russia
Iran
North Korea
Vetting
Self-certification (supply chain verification)
Who It's For
Department of Defense, military operations
Requirements
NDAA + rigorous cybersecurity + offline capability
Vetting
Defense Innovation Unit comprehensive assessment + Authority to Operate
Important: Blue UAS is DoD-Specific
Blue UAS certification and procurement rules apply only to Department of Defense purchases. Unless you work for the DoD or in a defense-adjacent role, Blue UAS requirements likely don't apply to your operations. Public Safety, Law Enforcement, and Fire Departments typically require NDAA-compliant drones, not Blue UAS.
Key Distinction
All Blue UAS drones are NDAA-compliant, but not all NDAA-compliant drones are Blue UAS. We help you determine which certification level your mission requires.
