Blue UAS vs NDAA-compliant.
Blue UAS is a list. NDAA-compliant is a standard. Every aircraft on the list meets the standard; most aircraft that meet the standard are not on the list. Which one you need is written in your funding language.
Three terms, three different things
| Term | What it is | Who runs it | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|---|
| NDAA-compliant | A component-origin standard: no critical parts from restricted foreign sources | Federal law; the manufacturer states compliance | Anyone spending federal money; many states; infrastructure operators |
| Blue UAS | A cleared list of specific aircraft and components that passed DoD review | Defense Innovation Unit | Department of Defense buyers; borrowed by some grants and states |
| Green UAS | An industry assessment against similar supply-chain and cybersecurity criteria | AUVSI | Commercial and non-defense buyers |
How to read your funding language
- "NDAA-compliant" or "no covered components": get the manufacturer's written component statement. That is the requirement.
- "Blue UAS" or "on the DIU cleared list": you need a listed aircraft. Check the current list yourself; listings change.
- "American-made" or "domestically produced": a third question. Ask where the aircraft is designed, assembled, and where the airframe parts are made.
- Silent: assume NDAA-compliant is the floor if any federal dollar is involved, because federal funds cannot buy covered aircraft.
What people do when they assume they are the same
Two failures show up. A buyer reads "Blue UAS" in a grant, assumes any compliant aircraft qualifies, and has the purchase rejected in audit. Or a buyer reads "NDAA-compliant," assumes only listed aircraft qualify, and pays a premium for a listing the grant never asked for. The second is more common and more expensive. Read the sentence, then ask the vendor which one it holds.
Where EnCor stands
EnCor aircraft are designed and built in Tulsa, Oklahoma, without Section 889 covered components or telecommunications. EnCor does not hold a Blue UAS listing and does not claim one. For buyers whose language says NDAA-compliant, that is a written statement away. For buyers whose language says Blue UAS, we will tell you plainly that we are not the answer today.
Questions buyers ask
Is every Blue UAS drone NDAA-compliant?
Yes. Clearance for the Blue UAS list requires NDAA compliance, plus cybersecurity and supply-chain review by the Defense Innovation Unit.
Is every NDAA-compliant drone on Blue UAS?
No. Most are not. Blue UAS is a Department of Defense program with its own evaluation and a limited list. A compliant aircraft that has never been submitted, or is still in review, is compliant without being listed.
Does a police department need Blue UAS?
Usually not. Blue UAS exists for Department of Defense buyers. Some grants and some states borrow the list as a shortcut, so read the funding language. If it says NDAA-compliant, a manufacturer's component statement is enough.
What is Green UAS?
An industry program run by AUVSI that assesses commercial drones against similar supply-chain and cybersecurity criteria, aimed at non-defense buyers. It is a separate list again.
Is EnCor on Blue UAS?
No. EnCor does not claim a Blue UAS listing. EnCor aircraft are built in Tulsa, Oklahoma, without Section 889 covered components.
- Inspired Flight, "NDAA Compliant Drones Explained | Blue UAS vs Green UAS", accessed 2026-09-04.
- Advexure, "NDAA-Compliant, Blue UAS & Green UAS Drones", accessed 2026-09-04.
- MFE Inspection Solutions, "What Are NDAA-Compliant Drones? A Full List & More", accessed 2026-09-04.
Rule of thumb
- Blue UAS is a subset of NDAA-compliant.
- Grants say which one. Read the sentence.
- Paying for a listing you were not asked for is the common mistake.
- NDAA-compliant, explained