Seven years ago, Silicon Slopes wrote a profile about then-18-year-old George Matus and the launch of Teal Drones. Since then, Teal has become a subsidiary of Red Cat Holdings (a military technology company specializing in robotic hardware and software to support warfighters) and recently announced the clearance of its new military-grade small unmanned aircraft system (the Teal 2) by the U.S. Department of Defense to be designated as a Blue UAS. My how far we've come!
The Blue UAS Cleared List is an exclusive collection of DoD-approved drones designed for government users, compliant with the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), and validated as cyber-secure and safe for operation. The Teal 2 becomes the second sUAS from Red Cat's Teal Drones subsidiary (alongside the Golden Eagle) to pass the stringent testing required for Blue UAS clearance, making it among the fewer than 20 drones currently on the cleared list.
The Blue UAS initiative is driven by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), the sole DoD organization dedicated to accelerating the adoption of commercial and dual-use technology to address operational challenges efficiently, fostering national security and supporting the national security innovation base.
Launched in April, the Teal 2 aims to Dominate the Night™ and proudly claims its position as the world's leading sUAS for night operations. Equipped with Teledyne FLIR's state-of-the-art Hadron 640R sensor, it provides end users with unparalleled resolution in thermal imaging within a compact form factor. Additionally, the Teal 2 incorporates the latest intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance technology, empowering operators with real-time critical information and enabling faster, more informed decision-making.
The Blue UAS certification brings exciting new opportunities for the Teal 2. Now, Red Cat can fulfill orders contingent on certification, and it anticipates increased demand from both the U.S. government and allied nations for Blue UAS-approved drones.
