Major Shakeup in Blue sUAS List: Eight Vendors Removed, Three New Added

As of March 6, 2025, the Blue sUAS Cleared List—a roster of U.S. government-approved drones—has undergone a dramatic update, shrinking from 15 vendors to 10 in just a week. According to a comparison of the list between February 28 and March 6, 2025, eight vendors have been dropped, while three new ones have joined the ranks. A press release from the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) dated February 14, 2025, provides insight into this shift, pointing to the Blue UAS Challenge as the driving force behind the changes. This article dives into the details of this overhaul, exploring what it means for the Drone Industry and government procurement.

What is the Blue sUAS List?

The Blue sUAS list is a carefully vetted catalog of drones sanctioned by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) for military and government use. These platforms must comply with stringent regulations, including Section 848 of the FY20 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Section 817 of the FY23 NDAA, and the 2024 American Security Drone Act. Beyond legal compliance, the drones undergo rigorous cybersecurity validation to ensure they’re safe for sensitive operations. Maintained by the DIU, the list serves as a trusted resource for agencies seeking reliable unmanned aerial systems (UAS).

The Big Purge: Vendors Removed

Between February 28 and March 6, 2025, the Blue sUAS list saw a significant cull. Here’s who’s no longer on it:

AgEagle (formerly senseFly) – Known for the eBee TAC and eBee X.
Ascent Aerosystems – Maker of the Spirit.
Blue Halo – Offered the IE-V2 Jet.
HoveryTech Technologies – Produced the Spectre (distinct from Hoverfly Technologies’ offering, pending clarification).
Inspired Flight – Supplied heavy-duty models like the IF1200A and IF800.
Parrot – Featured the ANAFI USA GOV and MIL variants.
Vantage – Brought the Viper to the table.
Wingtra – Known for the Wingtra One Gen II.

These eight vendors, previously staples of the list, have been removed, reducing the total from 15 to 10. Their absence raises questions about why they didn’t make the cut in this latest refresh.

New Faces: Vendors Added

While the list lost eight vendors, it gained three newcomers:

Flightwave – Added with the Edge 130, a compact yet capable platform.
Hoverfly Technologies – Joined with the Spectre, possibly overlapping with HoveryTech Technologies (though treated as separate due to naming differences).
Zone 5 Technologies – Introduced the Paladin, a rugged tactical drone.

These additions bring fresh blood to the Blue sUAS lineup, reflecting the outcomes of a recent evaluation process.

The Blue UAS Challenge: Behind the Shakeup

The catalyst for this overhaul is the Blue UAS Challenge, a competitive event held at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center 29 Palms. Detailed in the DIU’s February 14 press release, the challenge saw military operators evaluate drones over three days of flight demonstrations. Out of 369 proposals from companies across 19 Countries, 23 platforms and 14 components were selected for NDAA verification and cybersecurity review.

The event targeted capabilities critical to modern warfare, such as:

Ease of flight: Responsive controls, stability, and intuitive interfaces.
Learning curve: Quick mission planning and operator proficiency.
Flight performance: Endurance, range, and reliable communication.
Advanced features: Payload capacity, sensor quality, and resilience to GPS denial or electronic warfare jamming.

Notably, the challenge introduced new platform types—First Person View (FPV), Group 3, and tethered UAS—responding to operator feedback and emerging mission needs. Platforms like Neros Archer, Hoverfly Spectre, and Zone 5 Paladin have already earned an Authority to Operate (ATO), securing their spots on the March 6 list. Others, such as Flightwave Edge 130 and Skydio X10D, also appear to have cleared verification by this date.

Why the Cuts?

The removal of eight vendors likely ties directly to the challenge’s outcomes. The DIU describes this as the first of an annual event to “update capabilities” on the Blue sUAS list, suggesting a shift to a merit-based refresh process. Vendors absent from the March 6 list—such as Parrot and Wingtra—don’t appear among the 23 platforms selected for verification, implying their drones either didn’t participate or didn’t meet the new standards.

However, the list’s shrinkage from 15 to 10 vendors hints at a possible reset. The March 6 lineup includes only platforms that have completed verification by that date, with the DIU noting that “over the coming months,” the list will expand as more selections pass muster. This could mean some removed vendors are still in the pipeline, awaiting approval, though no explicit evidence confirms this for the eight dropped companies.

Another theory: the criteria have evolved. The focus on FPV, tethered platforms, and resilience to electronic threats might have sidelined vendors whose offerings didn’t align with these priorities. Without specific failure details, it’s reasonable to conclude that non-selection or incomplete verification led to their exclusion.

The Current Lineup

As of March 6, 2025, the Blue sUAS list features these 10 vendors and their platforms:

Anduril: Ghost, Ghost X
Easy Aerial: Osprey
Flightwave: Edge 130
Freefly Systems: Astro
Hoverfly Technologies: Spectre
Neros Technologies: Archer
PDW: C100
Skydio: X2D (various models), X10D
Teal: Teal 2, Golden Eagle
Zone 5 Technologies: Paladin

Seven of these—Anduril, Easy Aerial, Freefly Systems, Neros Technologies, PDW, Skydio, and Teal—carried over from February 28, likely re-verified or grandfathered in. The three newcomers reflect the challenge’s early winners.

Drone Industry Impact

This shakeup reverberates across the drone sector. For removed vendors like Parrot and Inspired Flight, losing Blue sUAS status could dent their credibility and government sales, pushing them to reapply in future cycles or pivot to commercial markets. Conversely, newcomers like Flightwave and Zone 5 Technologies gain a competitive edge, tapping into DoD contracts that demand Blue sUAS compliance.

For the government, the updated list ensures access to cutting-edge UAS tailored to current threats—think GPS-denied environments and electronic warfare. The annual challenge also accelerates capability delivery, bypassing traditional DoD timelines that can lag years behind operator needs.

What’s Next?

The Blue sUAS list isn’t static. With 23 platforms selected for verification, only a subset (e.g., Neros Archer, Skydio X10D) made the March 6 cut. The rest—including names like Teledyne FLIR Black Hornet and Shield AI V-BAT—could join as they clear cybersecurity hurdles. This phased expansion aligns with the DIU’s promise of growth “over the coming months.”

The challenge’s global reach—drawing proposals from 18 countries beyond the U.S.—and its overlap with the AUVSI Green UAS list signal a maturing UAS ecosystem. Two Green UAS platforms made the Blue sUAS shortlist, hinting at tighter industry-DoD collaboration.

The Blue sUAS list’s transformation as of March 6, 2025, marks a bold refresh driven by the Blue UAS Challenge. Eight vendors—AgEagle, Ascent Aerosystems, Blue Halo, HoveryTech Technologies, Inspired Flight, Parrot, Vantage, and Wingtra—have been axed, while Flightwave, Hoverfly Technologies, and Zone 5 Technologies step into the spotlight. This shift underscores a dynamic, performance-based approach to drone approval, prioritizing security and innovation for military use. As more platforms clear verification, the list will grow, but for now, it’s a leaner, meaner roster ready for the battlefield’s evolving demands.

DroneXL’s Take

The Blue sUAS list and AUVSI’s Green sUAS reek of a coordinated hit job—government and lobbyists teaming up to bury Chinese made drones under a pile of security flags. Blue’s for the military, Green’s the commercial spin-off, both peddling “data-secure” vendors to keep the U.S. skies pure and free from competition. Convenient, isn’t it? Yet the irony stings: no one’s biting. Grey sUAS, AKA DJI drones still rule the skies and remain the favorite drone to use among many First Responders, Search and Rescue crews and others. These color-coded crusades look more like posturing than progress. What’s the real game here? Watch closely.