The Blue sUAS list, a program initiated by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) of the Department of Defense (DoD), includes a variety of drones from different manufacturers, all of which are designed for specific uses and capabilities. These drones are recognized for their high-end security, durability, and imaging capabilities. This article aims to provide a comprehensive look at the drones included in the Blue sUAS 1.0 and 2.0 lists.
Blue sUAS 1.0 drones
Parrot ANAFI-USA-Gov/mil
This drone offers high-end security, durability, and imaging capabilities. Its data encryption and privacy features are compliant with the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation.
ANAFI USA in a glance
• 32x zoom
• 2 21Mp cameras (wide, telephoto)
• FLIR Boson® 320x256 IR camera
• 5-axes hybrid stabilization
• Compact: 228x101x76 mm
• Lightweight: 496 grams
• 32 minutes flying time
• IP53: dust and water resistant
• Discreet: 84 dB at 1 m height
• Speed: 14,7 m/s
• Operating temperature range: -35 °C to 49 °C
• Service ceiling: 6 000 m
• Video: 4K
• Deployed in less than a minute
• Hand-launch
• Hand landing White Paper ANAFI USA v1.6 Page 5/39 Conception Key characteristics
• Ultra-lightweight: 496 g
• Folded (228x101x76 mm), ANAFI USA is ultraportable
• Functions in IP53 conditions for at least 32 minutes, a full battery flight
Skydio X2D
Skydio is a U.S. drone manufacturer and pioneer in autonomous flight technology. Skydio leverages breakthrough AI, Skydio Autonomy, to create intelligent flying machines for use by consumers, enterprises, and government agencies.
AUTONOMY 360° obstacle avoidance
CAMERA 4K60P HDR color + FLIR® 320p thermal
NIGHT OPERATIONS GPS flight + strobe lighting
WIRELESS RANGE 6km (5GHz)* or 10km (1.8GHz)*
BATTERY 35 min flight time
SUPPLY CHAIN NDAA compliant
Teal Golden Eagle
Teal’s third-generation aircraft, the Golden Eagle, is produced entirely in the U.S. for short-range reconnaissance and powerful situational awareness.
Flight Time: 20-30 Minutes Max Horizontal Flight Speed: 50 MPH Wind Resistance: 25 MPH Weight: 2.3 Pounds Max Flight Altitude from Controller: 2,000 Feet Flight Controller: PX4 Operation Temp Range: -32°F - 110°F
Camera System: FLIR Hadron Dual Camera EO/IR Payload with Dual-axis Gimbal Stabilization EO Sensor: Sony IMX412 4056x3040 Pixels 1/2.3” 12.3MP CMOS EO Video Recording: Up to 4K@60FPS Video Format: MPEG-4 Gimbal Pitch Controllable Range: -135o - +45o IR Sensor: Boson, 320x256 Pixels IR Video Recording: Native@30Hz Storage: UFS 64GB Encrypted Onboard Optional Removable Micro SD Card
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 GPU: Qualcomm Adreno 630 CPU: Octa-core Qualcomm Kryo 385 64-bit CPU Image Processor: Qualcomm Spectra 280 with Dual 14-bit CPU Memory: 8 GB LPDDR4X
Compatible Ground Control Systems: Teal Air Control (TAC), TOGA, MAVLink GCS Range: 3KM+ Operating Frequencies: 900, 1800, & 2400 MHz Encryption: AES 256 Protocol: MAVLink
Vantage Robotics Vesper
Headquartered in Silicon Valley, Vantage Robotics designs, builds and sells UAVs and UAV components for the U.S. government as well as commercial customers.
1.8 lb/ 800 g 4 hr battery life <90 second launch time Tactile flight and camera controls
CAPABLE Super bright 2500 NIT 7” 1080p screen Intel i3 processor Optional cellular connectivity 500 GB on-board storage
SECURE AES-256 encryption Secure software design Designed, sourced, and built in USA Secure user authentication NDAA Compliant
RUGGED Waterproof to IP56 4 ft drop ready Stylus to support gloved use
Blue sUAS 2.0
Sensefly eBee TAC
A fixed-wing mapping and imagery collection UAS that operates in remote environments to provide high-accuracy maps for rapid analysis and decision making.
Available Swappable Payloads:
senseFly S.O.D.A 3D
senseFly S.O.D.A
senseFly Aeria X
senseFly Duet T
MicaSense RedEdge MX
Payload capacity up to 300g
Advertised Capabilities:
Vehicle Weight: 1.6 kg
Deployment time: 3 minutes
Up to 90 minutes flight time
540 acres to 1,235 acres mission coverage at 400 feet altitude
Radio Silent mode
Freefly Systems Alta X
An all-electric heavy lift quadcopter that can be custom configured to support a variety of mission requirements.
Available Payloads:
Additional capacity for 35lb payload
12.5lb payload limitation for 55lb MGTOW
Modular payload mounting system
Advertised Capabilities:
Endurance: 50 min
Range: limited by RFD-900x
Max Altitude: 10,000 feet
All weather
Ascent AeroSystems Spirit
A compact, all-weather, coaxial UAV. Spirit is specifically designed to operate in the harshest environments, including heavy rain, snow, and high wind.
Available Payloads:
NextVision Nighthawk2-UZ
NextVision Nighthawk2-V
NextVision Dragoneye2
Spirit Payload Development Kit
Advertised Capabilities:
Vehicle Weight: 4.1 lbs.
Max available payload: 6.5 lbs.
Environmental Hardening: IP56
Endurance: 53 min
Max Airspeed: >60 mph
Wingtra WingtraOne
A fixed-wing mapping drone that delivers consistent, high-quality survey data. Its unique tail-sitting design provides a simplified workflow and reliable performance in high winds.
Available Payloads:
Sony RX1RII
Sony Alpha 6100
Sony Alpha 6100 oblique
MicaSense RedEdge-MX
MicaSense Altum
Advertised Capabilities:
Vehicle Weight: 4.5 kg
Endurance: 59 minutes
Coverage: 520 acres at 400 ft AGL
Absolute horizontal accuracy down to 0.39 in with PPK
Blue Halo Intense Eye V2
A 750mm quad copter designed with a payload capacity of up to 4lbs.
Available Payloads:
Payload Mount: Picatinny Rail
Additional capacity for 4lbs payload
Advertised Capabilities:
Range: 10km
Endurance: 34 minutes
MGTOW: 13.2 lbs
Inspired Flight IF750
A compact, versatile electric quadcopter designed for third-party sensor integration.Its quick deployment and commercially portable design provide a simple and repeatable workflow for the operator in the field.
Available Payloads:
Additional capacity for 4.6lb payload
<20lb MGTOW with max payload
Universal mounting & payload interface
Advertised Capabilities:
Max Endurance: 36 min
Radio Range: 10 km
Max Airspeed: 40mph
Inspired Flight IF1200
A ruggedized, electric heavy-lift hexacopter designed to adapt to a specific requirement set.Minimal vibration and a compact footprint allow the IF1200 to integrate with any third party payload such as LiDAR, radiation detection sensors, gimbaled EO/IR sensors, and delivery capabilities.
Available Payloads:
Additional capacity for 19lb payload
<55lbs MGTOW with max payload
Universal mounting & payload interface
Advertised Capabilities:
Max Endurance: 25 min
Range: 10 km
Max Airspeed: 49 mph
Easy Aerial Osprey
A durable carbon and composite drone with slightly overlapping propellers that create a relatively compact form factor.The hex configuration and quick-release hard points make the airframe ideal for carrying a variety of large payloads or cargo.
Available Payloads:
NextVision Nighthawk
Additional capacity for 6.6 lb payload
Advertised Capabilities:
Max Endurance: 55 min
Max Range: 20 km
Weight w/o Payload: 12.12 lbs
Harris Aerial Carrier H6 HE+
The Carrier H6 HE+ is a multi-hour flight-capable hexacopter powered by an EFI gas generator with the option to be all-electric. The H6 HE+ platform offers payload versatility for a wide variety of mission profiles and durations. In-house engineering and manufacturing guarantees seamless payload integration and the ability to reconfigure to all electric power in the field rapidly.
Available Payloads:
Additional capacity for 11lb payload with gas hybrid
Additional capacity for 15lb payload with fully electric
Universal quick release payload mounts
Advertised Capabilities:
Endurance (gas hybrid): up to 3 hours
Endurance (electric): 35 minutes
Range: 30 miles
Max Airspeed: 48 mph
Harris Aerial Carrier H6 Hydrone
The Carrier H6 Hydrone is a multi-hour flight capable hexacopter powered by a hydrogen fuel cell with the option to be all-electric. The H6 Hydrone platform offers payload versatility for a wide variety of mission profiles and durations. In-house engineering and manufacturing guarantees seamless payload integration.
Available Payloads:
Additional capacity for 11lb payload with gas hybrid
Additional capacity for 15lb payload with fully electric
Universal quick release payload mounts
Advertised Capabilities:
Endurance (gas hybrid): up to 3 hours
Endurance (electric): 35 minutes
Range: 30 miles
Max Airspeed: 48 mph
Flightwave Aero Edge 130
A VTOL tricopter designed for long-range, long-endurance mapping, inspection, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions utilizing tool-free swapping of 5 approved payloads.
Conclusion
The Blue sUAS program is a testament to the innovation and capabilities of USA-made drones. These drones meet the stringent security and performance standards set by the DoD and provide various solutions to meet different mission requirements. As the drone industry continues to evolve, the Blue sUAS program clearly indicates the potential and capabilities of USA-made drones.
At Oversight, we're proud to exclusively use USA-made drones from companies on the Blue sUAS list. We believe in these drones' quality, durability, and advanced capabilities, and we're committed to providing our clients with the best possible service.
Whether you need aerial photography, surveying, or other drone services, we have the expertise and the equipment to meet your needs. Our team of professionals is ready to help you leverage the power of drone technology to achieve your goals.
Don't settle for less when it comes to drone services. Choose Oversight UAV, where we use only the best USA-made drones. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can assist you.
Remember, when you choose Oversight UAV, you're not just choosing a service. You're choosing quality, reliability, and peace of mind. Let's soar to new heights together with USA-made drones!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Blue sUAS program?
The Blue sUAS program is an initiative by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) of the Department of Defense (DoD) to provide trusted, secure, and high-performing drones made by American and allied companies. What is blue UAS?
Blue UAS are drones that are included in the Blue sUAS program. These drones are recognized for their high-end security, durability, and imaging capabilities. How much does a blue sUAS cost?
The cost of a blue sUAS varies depending on the specific model and its features. For accurate pricing, contacting individual manufacturers or authorized dealers is best. What does sUAS mean in drones?
sUAS stands for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems. It refers to tiny drones that weigh less than 55 pounds.