Updates to BLUE List, Challenge Winners Announced & Updated UxS Deadline

Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.

August 2025 - Reading time: 3.5 minutes

*Feature*

*Highest-Ranking Senior Military Officer Visits DIU Headquarters* ( https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7348839537055313921?utm_campaign=website&utm_medium=email&utm_source=sendgrid.com )

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine and Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman Fleet Master Chief David Isomon visited our Mountain View headquarters to learn about key efforts, see technology demonstrations, and engage with the service members stationed here.

Check out the post on the Joint Staff LinkedIn page here ( https://www.linkedin.com/posts/thejointstaff_innovation-activity-7348114899358670850-HhCN?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAATai44BJfZ-3uIFrjplGtEoGWrgga0onVI&utm_campaign=website&utm_medium=email&utm_source=sendgrid.com ).

*Upcoming Events*

( https://www.diu.mil/latest/defense-innovation-organizations-at-fed-supernova-2025?utm_campaign=website&utm_medium=email&utm_source=sendgrid.com#office-hours )

*You’re Invited: Defense Innovation Organizations at Fed Supernova 2025* ( https://www.diu.mil/latest/defense-innovation-organizations-at-fed-supernova-2025?utm_campaign=website&utm_medium=email&utm_source=sendgrid.com#office-hours )

—
AUG. 19-21, 2025
The annual 2025 Fed Supernova event in Austin is set for August 19-21, to bring together startups, government, industry, and academia to accelerate dual-use technology that powers national security – and the Defense Innovation Community, or DICE, will be there in full force!

*News*

( https://www.diu.mil/latest/diu-usnorthcom-us-army-announce-finalists-for-c-uas-low-cost-sensing?utm_campaign=website&utm_medium=email&utm_source=sendgrid.com )

*Ten Finalists Selected for Low-Cost Sensing Challenge* ( https://www.diu.mil/latest/diu-usnorthcom-us-army-announce-finalists-for-c-uas-low-cost-sensing?utm_campaign=website&utm_medium=email&utm_source=sendgrid.com )

—
DIU, USNORTHCOM, and the U.S. Army announced the ten finalists for the C-sUAS Low-Cost Sensing (LCS) Challenge. These companies will demonstrate their sensor technologies at the Falcon Peak exercise in September. The challenge aims to find affordable, scalable solutions to augment existing C-sUAS systems, with finalists offering diverse sensor modalities and potential cost savings of 50-80 percent.

Learn more ( https://www.diu.mil/latest/diu-usnorthcom-us-army-announce-finalists-for-c-uas-low-cost-sensing?utm_campaign=website&utm_medium=email&utm_source=sendgrid.com )

( https://www.diu.mil/latest/diu-outlines-immediate-updates-to-blue-uas-lists-announces-initial?utm_campaign=website&utm_medium=email&utm_source=sendgrid.com )

*Updates to Blue UAS List, Initial Recognized Assessor Cohort Announced* ( https://www.diu.mil/latest/diu-outlines-immediate-updates-to-blue-uas-lists-announces-initial?utm_campaign=website&utm_medium=email&utm_source=sendgrid.com )

—
In support of Secretary Hegseth’s recent memo on “Unleashing U.S. Military Drone Dominance” and President Trump’s Executive Order ( https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/06/unleashing-american-drone-dominance/?utm_campaign=website&utm_medium=email&utm_source=sendgrid.com ) , DIU has made several announcements related to the Blue UAS Cleared List. These updates support DIU’s continued efforts to provide pathways onto the Blue UAS Cleared List to accelerate trusted drone capabilities to the warfighter. Select updates include: expanding the Blue UAS Cleared List to include Green UAS certification, naming the initial cohort of Recognized Assessors, and refreshing the Blue UAS website to reflect new designations, including Blue UAS Select. We look forward to the immediate impact of these changes.

Learn more ( https://www.diu.mil/latest/diu-outlines-immediate-updates-to-blue-uas-lists-announces-initial?utm_campaign=website&utm_medium=email&utm_source=sendgrid.com )

*Open Opportunities*

( https://www.diu.mil/work-with-us/submit-solution/PROJ00598?utm_campaign=website&utm_medium=email&utm_source=sendgrid.com )

*DEADLINE UPDATED: $20M Available For ‘Ready Now’ UxS Solutions* ( https://www.diu.mil/work-with-us/submit-solution/PROJ00598?utm_campaign=website&utm_medium=email&utm_source=sendgrid.com )

—
In response to an accelerated timeline of need from our warfighter partners, we are updating the timeline for submissions to Design Reference Mission (DRM) 2 to August 8 (was previously August 15) and the demonstration event date to October 6 - 9, 2025.
Our Project G.I. Prize Challenge seeks “mission-ready” uncrewed systems (UxS) solutions to enhance the speed and lethality for small, dispersed targeting-strike cells operating under denied, disrupted, intermittent, and low-bandwidth conditions. Proposed challenge solutions must enhance tactical formation’s lethality, survivability, or overall mission effectiveness within the specified DRM and serve the needs of a DoD customer.
Project G.I. is intended to be able to respond rapidly to emerging needs from end users throughout DoD, and this timeline update is an example of how we will respond in order to deliver capabilities on the timeline required.

*Learn more* ( https://www.diu.mil/work-with-us/submit-solution/PROJ00598?utm_campaign=website&utm_medium=email&utm_source=sendgrid.com ) *
* ( https://www.diu.mil/work-with-us/immersive-commercial-acquisition-program-icap?utm_campaign=website&utm_medium=email&utm_source=sendgrid.com )

*DIU In the News*

* *GovDesignHub:* Bridging the Defense Supply Chain Gap With Blue Manufacturing ( https://govdesignhub.com/bridging-the-defense-supply-chain-gap-with-blue-manufacturing/?utm_campaign=website&utm_medium=email&utm_source=sendgrid.com )
* *Federal News Network:* A Look Back at the Origins of DIU ( https://federalnewsnetwork.com/defense-main/2025/06/a-look-back-at-the-origins-of-diu/?utm_campaign=website&utm_medium=email&utm_source=sendgrid.com )
* *FastCompany:* The Missing Key for Defense Innovation? A Good Coworking Space ( https://federalnewsnetwork.com/defense-main/2025/06/a-look-back-at-the-origins-of-diu/?utm_campaign=website&utm_medium=email&utm_source=sendgrid.com )
* *DefenseOne:* Bill Aims to Lock in DIU’s Dual-Use Reservist Corps ( https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2025/05/bill-aims-lock-dius-dual-use-reservist-corps/405555/?oref=defenseone_today_nl&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Defense%20One%20Today:%20May%2023%2C%202025&utm_term=newsletter_d1_today&utm_campaign=website&utm_medium=email&utm_source=sendgrid.com )
* *New York Times:* Drones Are Key to Winning Wars Now. The U.S. Makes Hardly Any ( https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/13/business/drones-us-military-manufacturing-lags.html?unlocked_article_code=1.WE8.PKrt.i19RVBFBcgga&smid=nytcore-android-share&utm_campaign=website&utm_medium=email&utm_source=sendgrid.com )
* *DefenseNews:* Jammed and confused: Alaska trial shows pitfalls of fielding U.S. drones ( https://www.defensenews.com/pentagon/2025/07/15/jammed-and-confused-alaska-trial-shows-pitfalls-of-fielding-us-drones/?utm_campaign=website&utm_medium=email&utm_source=sendgrid.com )

If you were not the original recipient of this email and would like to sign up for the DIU Newsletter, please register here ( https://www.diu.mil/newsletter-sign-up?utm_campaign=website&utm_medium=email&utm_source=sendgrid.com ).

*About the Defense Innovation Unit* ( http://diu.mil?utm_campaign=website&utm_medium=email&utm_source=sendgrid.com )

The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) strengthens national security by accelerating the adoption of commercial technology in the Department of Defense and bolstering our allied and national security innovation bases. DIU partners with organizations across the DoD to rapidly prototype and field dual-use capabilities that solve operational challenges at speed and scale. With offices in Silicon Valley, Boston, Austin, Chicago and Washington, D.C., DIU is the Department’s gateway to leading technology companies across the country.

( https://www.facebook.com/defenseinnovationunitx/?utm_campaign=website&utm_medium=email&utm_source=sendgrid.com ) ( https://x.com/diu_x?lang=en&mx=2&utm_campaign=website&utm_medium=email&utm_source=sendgrid.com ) ( https://www.linkedin.com/company/diux/posts/?feedview=all&utm_campaign=website&utm_medium=email&utm_source=sendgrid.com )

Defense Innovation Unit

230 RT Jones Rd , Mountain View ,  

Unsubscribe ( https://u18220755.ct.sendgrid.net/asm/unsubscribe/?user_id=18220755&data=Jg2XrUnhdWh1byA7-hoej2Td00pww7uPQmmWnQ8WMhJoMDAwdTAwMDqroCLsmL3h4feRSidMj0Fr3D44MaHJ-wKcRBmUGVHUazT_N9fYcgloq6TPscWhoGIiJl1fIDuvf6XpONqbxBBAj_Gj9R7c-9xII6JPuss09Stgu5nf61YncSKdchIF10bg4dAHl4BHBPnhkqHajlMyAdkHK9tsuNk3BaVJtJIW3asqcQGMOtE53_cv7IzsOXdwu74m0iz1iE2oSz3b4Bcc_9EFlQTZdZ6HMKYev6uLA9AvMzleMFd9Ow9oPyuEJk1NNqNHtgXrGGVW6Up0lZNYHX3jxcgiE-aSueYoo-JkqqmqhFXY6rugyQC1MZqVnryao2VXwpfujRt4UPKhde3tozGIZvLYKwvEfJu1xl6jK3T08fivhd0mc93irNFMmr8gL3N2n9qCnT3w_oHHSq2zb4sBgHoStUDcUpvXXbmnApd27g4f3lPXcdSYseTz_noPtzv76tOEOZt908aObH6xA8iYaJWoDVKa6vhJnReZsD18aXpJi4-oDtzm0mC1CYGCcjDsXPqFWF3CFgg75fp0FoQlUiedg-vN7vp_jNxeFJGfesvrUBUKG3f0so3XQm2mTh5el_g66xHcU8qMbTbFPhiYoz5xq4KXe7trFY3MATj5c5OLrT7Venp48MKbV-R0jjRLoe1LbI8__JShuTmkJ4es9wYUoMhDieg-8LX3guIVP2OOSka9z-PUuh7Ggs-azwUz0KaoMV5jwDxn8_EF59VxFA63ogSGI-b-770-eRD_3D8NttbPO1pxmpS3l4qlPKZo2f1RA0FB3M_yW977xFMvx8UpIkus-6tSIgJo1mlzRsHyY4R9mNyuaojSuT_3hTkUeYumqQXM4c-5r115HZnh27QIy0_8MjOYZPg0kmSm9jnKYj17wwP4p2ar_7ewOSZK9lplmJ4stNxK4RLF5N0kld8N0xJeVJ7pUXLIebzbf3fTYNmhu8ad5oH5hCwuUVg7dvTFpgIx3eIAJqZvvFO6ys1CkFuis_RSDh726Op8rgtzq6LBcBJL6TkVNfYDAn38KsRf2Vw_0gk__boz7GyafymVlBBQn8WXYDuOyx35ONEdhgwrf-2zXtRR7UIJDLV2IgSrKKt3BuWGsEo= ) - Unsubscribe Preferences ( https://u18220755.ct.sendgrid.net/asm/?user_id=18220755&data=rSAuDEb1-V42JzMa9FGRg0y5g6e6v8n-T_y8rpT_BkhoMDAwdTAwMNuoz_XRg3cMpVVF4CGsDBG129E_Hs8Ed4cFHyskrRHfCmQhwpvmQ9xyMfiONjcXCHL1kDNUg2ZUOtteS6Y4-Echgo19ctMwlmjVZY9PS5r5WJ4RhHsDGuFSSgQYErSJA63RO9nusq2hW8QrezWmJBQmB7f2du2OLksCI1qGRY_HGw7idFoYemeZQNIITiOq6q_79H6QnXRSEAN61JPPvTLTKY57LrceFOsTsr-x_RUGH14rs4Vln6M44DEsWDfkDAbETH69A8g4xQCcMIvukZ5xCbFzj-RXwUH8szt3rzIzIE2fczyS8LWe6NCqy8FBg75GSpIhv28wkiFeOPDHP0IbDya9p133CcTtqCG44bn4PurMZB8gZx9a_zvMgXQAZhjZHKf0ym9a5TJj-M1u3-QhBJ7tJxvEOqPNlE6Y4KilThrO6P9tjnNQ210amdsPN5Pk74u2wzf4mz7wE7X8bY1KtnXrYiBUgJMwAYDl2JEvLOVYB90B2FCoN3caFPjeIkOn4fcC4keGmbIfptZmIUaHtEPAJ0twdhHDA2qFTHbaXfol99i8A_V3ql_wOrAppTmx5o2OZ6qhZC5MrRB67KkF-NwOGykmSvbdgFBoOzoW8xfnBly_bbb2govuEsHh1jhXw6AwKgNm7pKOR0iAMIF7cubeuAikwveFrAVnCp6ka5r-o-Z9qJ4vrGOktBypJrv3aWWrZ_D2l5CfwJMlcA18Li-NqljxfVQiH63uScBjpCAXGtLgcX5Ivb7M6XQ7Ep8tImRfZzoJuLgifeNiCPOIgd5UaIZbQEtfCQ4EexAfpEHmbHJwSdOuft2MYQijP7yRsnYzJmIp9kbKQxhOHUbSVoqFWdw05PIf8c1BjTFe0y96PXkHK8l0A-bKXZaO07xtjWgK51HJLbY_xMAfiiHKXgp93aUL_CjzElrrlXzrNlk2O8T402KRHYenFGTbSLLPCfBpWeVKGOLBMH5jAh5F_VctMMdGaOcBQW0YHruDO3mHdPuN2Kf6Y64FmygnR_588pg3lfq72kGGZ3aPoI1qwNQwBY2RBS3JwmT1_eodkHZTjJPO1Mk4qa_Trrzd0Q== )