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Skydio X10, R10, and Dock for X10 Join the Blue UAS Cleared List

Skydio’s X10, R10, and Dock for X10 have been added to the U.S. federal government’s Blue UAS Cleared List.

The three systems join the X10D, which received Blue UAS clearance in 2024.

Blue UAS is an elite group of drones that have been rigorously vetted by the Department of Defense (DoD) and approved for use by the federal government.

The announcement significantly expands Skydio’s Blue UAS lineup beyond the defense-focused X10D. Buyers can now choose cleared Skydio systems for portable outdoor inspections, recurring dock-based operations, and indoor or GPS-denied work.

For enterprise and industrial teams with strict cybersecurity or procurement requirements, Skydio now offers one of the broadest Blue UAS-cleared lineups on the market.

What Is the Blue UAS Cleared List?

Blue UAS—also called “blue drones”—are drone systems that have completed rigorous federal security, supply-chain, and compliance vetting.

To become Blue UAS, the DoD vets drones for:

NDAA compliance. The drone must comply with federal restrictions on prohibited UAS components, services, and suppliers.
Supply-chain integrity. Reviewers examine company ownership, country-of-origin documentation, component sourcing, and the provenance of critical hardware, software, and firmware.
Cybersecurity. The system must undergo cybersecurity evaluation intended to identify vulnerabilities and determine whether the platform is suitable for government use.
Configuration control. Clearance applies to the reviewed system and configuration. Unapproved changes, unresolved cybersecurity issues, or unsupported components can affect a platform’s continued eligibility.

Put simply, buying a “blue drone” can make procurement a lot easier.

Instead of starting every security and supply-chain review from scratch, buyers can begin with systems that have already completed formal federal vetting.

Some federal agencies can only purchase drones from the Blue UAS Cleared List, while others use it as a trusted starting point for procurement.

As security concerns have grown around drone procurement, some state agencies have also started requiring their organizations to use drones with Blue UAS clearance.

And there’s a growing list of private companies following Blue UAS guidance, including critical infrastructure operators, government contractors, and other buyers whose procurement policies or funding sources require or prioritize vetted UAS technology.

Skydio’s Four Blue UAS-Cleared Solutions

The X10, Dock for X10, R10, and X10D support four distinct operating models.

The right choice depends on the operating environment, deployment method, and whether the system is intended for enterprise or defense applications.

Here’s more information about each one:

Skydio X10

The Skydio X10 is a portable, autonomous enterprise drone made for demanding outdoor inspections.

Best for: Inspecting utilities, industrial facilities, infrastructure, rooftops, and other difficult-to-access assets
Key capabilities: High-resolution visual and thermal data collection, AI-powered autonomy, and advanced obstacle avoidance
Why choose it: The X10 helps inspection teams collect detailed data around complex structures while meeting applicable Blue UAS procurement requirements

Learn more about the X10.

Skydio Dock for X10

The Skydio Dock for X10 enables remote, repeatable inspections from a fixed location.

Best for: Recurring asset inspections, scheduled facility surveys, construction monitoring, and remote site monitoring
Key capabilities: Keeps the X10 protected, charged, connected, and ready for scheduled or on-demand deployment
Why choose it: Paired with the X10, teams can use the Dock for X10 to implement continuous monitoring programs, automating the inspection of frequently-monitored assets without sending an operator to the site for every flight

Learn more about the Dock for X10.

Skydio R10

The Skydio R10 brings Blue UAS-cleared autonomy to indoor, confined, dark, cluttered, and GPS-denied environments.

Best for: Inspecting industrial facilities, enclosed infrastructure, equipment rooms, and other hazardous or difficult-to-access spaces
Key capabilities: A compact, rugged design with enclosed propellers, obstacle avoidance, and visual and thermal imaging for indoor data collection
Why choose it: The R10 helps teams assess asset conditions remotely, reduce unnecessary personnel entry, and determine when closer hands-on inspection is needed

Learn more about the R10.

Skydio X10D

The Skydio X10D is the defense-focused version of the X10, designed for military and government operations. It received Blue UAS clearance back in 2024.

Best for: Tactical intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; situational awareness; force protection; and operations in GPS- or communications-denied environments
Key capabilities: AI-powered autonomy, advanced visual and thermal imaging, resilient communications, low-light navigation, and integration with defense systems
Why choose it: The X10D combines the X10 platform’s autonomous flight and sensing capabilities with specialized security, communications, and mission features built for defense applications

Learn more about the X10D.

Together, these systems give organizations Blue UAS-cleared options for outdoor inspections, indoor inspections, fixed-site remote deployment, and defense/enterprise applications.

The MFE Spot integration builds on this idea, using connected gas detection to help teams collect atmospheric data remotely, respond when conditions change, and make robotic workflows more useful in hazardous environments.

Helping Buyers Navigate a Changing Drone Market

For many buyers, choosing a drone these days isn’t just about specs.

For many teams, it’s also about where the drone is made and where its components come from. This is why we’re seeing a growing interest in drones that are American-made, NDAA-compliant, or even Blue UAS-cleared.

To meet this growing demand, we hosted MFE Field Trials back in April.

The event gave inspection teams the chance to compare NDAA-compliant drones during live industrial demonstrations, featuring systems from Skydio, Freefly, Teledyne FLIR, WISPR Systems, and RT Robotics.

Of course, every organization needs to weigh different considerations when it comes to acquiring inspection technology. MFE helps you understand your options, compare trusted inspection technologies, and identify equipment that fits your application and operating environment.

Whatever your inspection needs, we’re here to help you find the right technology and move forward with confidence.