The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) recently took a significant step toward certifying commercial unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and components suitable for military use and making them available to the military services. In a statement Friday, the DIU added 37 systems and components certified for military use, pending final approvals to ensure they meet Congressionally mandated cybersecurity and supply chain standards. The development highlights the growing importance of commercial drone technologies in the military arena and demonstrates the DIU’s focus on rapidly and safely bringing new technologies to the military services.
DIU's Demonstration and Evaluation Process
The three-day flight demonstration held at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms in California in November provided an opportunity for DIU to begin this process. The event selected 23 systems and 14 unique drone components and is currently undergoing a months-long cybersecurity validation process. As a result, the approved UAVs will be added to DIU’s “Blue Unmanned Aircraft Systems” list, and their components will be included in the “Blue UAV Framework.” This list and framework will allow military users to quickly gain access to commercial drones.
DIU stresses that these new technologies are crucial to providing critical capabilities to warfighters. It is vital that such capabilities become more quickly available to soldiers, especially given the current challenges of drone delivery processes.
The Role of Small Commercial UAVs on the Battlefield
In recent military conflicts, especially in operations in Ukraine and the Middle East, small commercial drones have played an important role. These drones have been used effectively in areas such as reconnaissance, surveillance, logistics and targeting. Commercial UAVs increase the efficiency of military operations while also reducing operational costs. The systems selected by DIU stand out as an initiative aimed at developing new capabilities in this area.
However, the increasing use of commercial UAVs has also brought with it some security concerns. In particular, the introduction of drone components manufactured in China into the US defense sector has raised concerns that the data collected by these systems could be shared with competitors. For this reason, the Pentagon has issued a series of congressional orders aimed at preventing the use of certain drone components manufactured by Chinese companies. These measures have created a serious obstacle to the procurement of commercial drones, but DIU is focused on developing new solutions to overcome this problem.
Blue UAS and New Initiatives
The Blue UAS (Blue UAV System) project, launched in 2020, has made commercial drone procurement a standard solution for the government. To date, DIU has commissioned 15 of these systems and created an inventory of approved components. However, some deficiencies and challenges have emerged in this process. While military units have stated that the systems on the list do not meet their most urgent needs, drone companies have also expressed financial and procedural hurdles in the procurement process. Taking this feedback into account, DIU aimed to renew the Blue UAS list and make the processes more efficient.
New Systems and Evolving Needs
The UAVs selected at the November event include systems such as the Hoverfly Spectre, Neros Archer, Teledyne FLIR Black Hornet and Parrot Anafi UKR. These systems include first-person view (FPV) drones that can transmit video feeds wirelessly, particularly with displays such as goggles or headsets. The addition of FPV systems and tethered platforms is a direct response to feedback from military users, DIU said.
The Future of Military and Commercial Drone Technologies
DIU’s efforts to integrate commercial UAVs into military use are a major step toward responding to the rapidly changing dynamics of technology and providing warfighters with up-to-date capabilities. While small commercial drones can make military operations faster, more efficient, and more cost-effective, DIU’s ability to simplify processes and increase access to these technologies will enable the U.S. military to respond more quickly and efficiently to future needs. In addition, overcoming security concerns and supply chain issues is critical to the effective use of these technologies in the military arena.
