The Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) announced that it has granted Green UAS certification to Hoverfly Technologies’ Spectre Uncrewed Aircraft System (UAS). The platform is the first tethered drone to be verified as meeting the highest levels of cybersecurity and the supply chain requirements in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) on either AUVSI’s Green UAS list or the Defense Innovation Unit’s (DIU) Blue UAS list.
The Green UAS certification process included a review of Spectre’s product security, including all components and subcomponents, remote operations security, supply chain risk management and a review of Hoverfly’s corporate cyber hygiene.
As the Defense Innovation Unit is conducting a refresh of vendors and platforms on the Blue UAS Cleared List, the agency has stated that it is, “prioritizing UAS that have already been vetted as meeting the highest levels of cybersecurity and NDAA supply chain requirements.” AUVSI’s Green UAS certification is intended to provide the same security assurances as DIU’s Blue UAS certification. It is officially listed under the Refresh Challenge’s Technical Capabilities, giving Green UAS verified platforms the same priority consideration as current Blue UAS vendors.
Casie Ocaña, Director, Trusted Programs at AUVSI, said, “AUVSI is committed to supporting the growth of a secure drone supply chain – and robust verification and certification is key to reaching that goal. We commend Hoverfly for successfully completing the Green UAS process and ensuring their drone meets the highest levels of cyber and supply chain security.
“With more than a dozen other companies in various stages of the review process, we expect to announce the certification of additional drones and components as Green approved in the coming weeks and months,” said Hoverfly CEO Steve Walters, “which will expand the offerings of vetted UAS that serve sectors in public safety, critical infrastructure, and agriculture. We want to thank AUVSI for its leadership in developing the Green UAS List process, which provides an essential pathway for small defense businesses like Hoverfly to demonstrate NDAA compliance. The Green List certification demonstrates our commitment to exceeding the highest standards of supply chain security and cybersecurity. As the first tethered drone company to achieve this milestone, Hoverfly has made it a priority to integrate robust security measures into every aspect of our design and production. This ensures that our drones not only meet the operational needs of our customers but also protect critical systems from emerging threats.”
In June 2024, AUVSI and DIU published a memo outlining procurement guidance and recommendations for federal government agencies; state, local, and tribal government agencies; public safety agencies; and private industry conducting sensitive missions using drones. The memo followed the passage of the American Security Drone Act (ASDA) into law in December 2023 and publication of warning memos from federal agencies about the cyber risks of Chinese-manufactured UAS.
In April 2024, AUVSI and DIU signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to create a process for drone component manufacturers holding Green UAS certification to share their data directly with DIU. The MOU has facilitated the inclusion of multiple Green certified components on DIU’s Blue UAS Framework list, including the Aeronav ground control station from UXV Technologies, the HD45 gimbal from Trillium Engineering, the Embedded Mesh Rider radio from Doodle Labs, the StreamCaster LITE 4200 radio from Silvus Technologies, and the WIRIS Enterprise camera from Workswell.
