Is Green UAS the Future of Commercial Drones?

These days, supply chain is a hot topic in the drone industry.

Underneath that dry phrase is the roiling debate about DJI and whether we can trust drones or drone components made in China. Because when you ask about supply chain, you’re really asking: Does that drone have any connection with China?

And that question couldn’t be more timely. At the moment, a law that would ban DJI completely is moving forward in Congress.

The DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise | Credit: DJI

Called the Countering CCP Drones Act, first responders and many others—including us at UAV Coach—have spoken out against this law, since it would remove choice from the consumer and hurt many small business owners.

But whether the DJI ban passes or not, supply chain concerns are here to stay. And this is where Green UAS comes in.

What Is Green UAS?

Green UAS is an initiative led by AUVSI in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD).

The program is designed to provide a trusted framework for certifying the cybersecurity and compliance of commercial drones, ensuring they meet security standards set by the U.S. government.

The Skydio X10, which was recently added to the Blue UAS list

The DOD’s Blue UAS program vets drones for use by the federal government, putting them through a long, exhaustive, and expensive process. But not all companies can afford to do this—and, depending on their target uses, not all those who use drones really need to have their tech vetted to such a degree.

The solution? Green UAS—drones that meet security requirements but aren’t as strictly vetted as Blue UAS.

• Blue UAS is focused on drones for federal and defense applications. It certifies drones for use by the federal government by putting them through a rigorous, lengthy vetting process.
• Green UAS is focused on drones for commercial applications. It’s a complementary program that certifies drones for use by private companies by putting them through a vetting process that mirrors the Blue UAS process, but in a way that makes sense for the private sector.

Providing Certification at a Time of Uncertainty

Here’s another way to think about Green UAS.

For large companies that use drones in their operations, they don’t necessarily need Blue UAS. But they may face pressure to buy drones that have met certain security standards, including supply chain standards.

The Anzu Raptor is a new commercial drone that meets NDAA supply chain requirements

For these companies, there is no current solution for buying a drone that they know is guaranteed to meet these standards.

Sure, drone companies can say they are “NDAA compliant”—meaning, free from components made in China—but there is no formal certification for being NDAA compliant. It’s just a thing you say.

Green UAS fills this gap by providing a formal certification process.

And it has the stamp of authority, through its connection with AUVSI and DOD. So, for companies who just want an option that has been certified “safe” by a recognized authority, Green UAS provides just that.

Why Green UAS Matters—Both for Private Companies and for Federal Agencies

Green UAS is focused on vetting drones for private companies. But it has a symbiotic relationship with drones for federal agencies, and will most likely become a feeder for some commercial drones into the Blue UAS framework.

Here are four reasons Green UAS matters, regardless of whether you use drones for government work or for work at a private company.

Skyfront’s Perimeter 8

1. Enhanced Security and Compliance

On the security front:

• Private companies can be reassured that their technology meets security requirements. This reduces the risk of cybersecurity threats, such as data breaches or unauthorized access to sensitive information, as well as helping project the message to clients and partners that the company cares about security.
• Federal agencies benefit from a reliable pool of compliant drones that can be deployed for various missions without concerns about security vulnerabilities.

2. Facilitates Wider Adoption of Drone Technology

On the adoption front:

• Private companies can have clear guidelines on which drones are trustworthy, encouraging adoption and making it easier for companies to integrate drones into their operations.
• Federal agencies will know that Green UAS drones meet NDAA or other regulatory requirements, providing clarity on which technology they can use in their work. (Federal agencies are not necessarily limited to using Blue UAS.)

3. Supports Innovation and Economic Growth

On the innovation and growth front:

• Private companies will benefit from the growth of innovation within the drone industry that Green UAS could engender, by lowering the barrier to entry set by Blue UAS and creating a clear path to being a “trusted drone” that companies can use for a range of applications.
• Federal agencies can also benefit from the growth of trusted drone companies, since the establishment of trusted guidelines could foster not only innovation but create economic incentives for companies to create solution-specific technology to meet government needs.

4. Aligns with National Security Interests

On the national security front:

• Private companies can be sure that the drones they use adhere to security protocols that protect national interests.
• Federal agencies can realize the same benefit, ensuring they maintain a secure operational environment by using access to drones that are vetted and approved for use in sensitive missions.

Green UAS Drones

So which drones are on the Green UAS cleared list? Just one so far.

At the moment, only Skyfront has completed the review process and received a Green UAS designation.

The Skyfront Perimeter 8 | Credit: Skyfront

But there are 15 drone companies currently in the process of securing Green UAS status. Here’s all of them:

So is Green UAS the future of commercial drones?

Right now it’s hard to say. But it certainly could be.

If supply chain concerns continue to grow—and it looks likely they will, regardless of what happens with the DJI ban—then companies may become more and more interested in knowing they’re buying secure technology.

And at the moment, the only recognized process for buying secure drone technology would be to buy Green UAS.

For now, Green UAS is more of an idea than a reality. But as more drone companies begin to join the cleared list and these drones become real options for companies, we’ll start to see whether private companies really are more attracted to buying these drones than competing options.