Freefly
Freefly Astro Max NDAA Compliant Blue UAS Version
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The Freefly Astro Max NDAA is the Blue UAS Cleared, NDAA Section 848 compliant configuration of Freefly's flagship commercial drone, designed and assembled in Woodinville, Washington. Built for federal agencies, state and local government, public safety, utilities, and critical infrastructure operators who require a trusted supply chain, this version ships with a Doodle Labs Helix mesh radio in place of the standard Herelink link and pairs the Pilot Pro controller with AuterionOS, Skynode LTE connectivity, and RTK positioning. The Smart Dovetail payload system carries up to 3 kg of compliant sensors, so the same airframe moves cleanly from high-resolution mapping to thermal inspection, LiDAR, gas detection, and radiometric work.
Blue UAS Cleared. NDAA Section 848 compliant. Ready for federal, SLED, and critical infrastructure missions.
Features
- Blue UAS Cleared and NDAA Section 848 compliant: approved for procurement by DoD, federal agencies, and programs that follow the Blue UAS Framework
- Designed, built, and supported in Woodinville, WA with a trusted, auditable US and allied supply chain
- Doodle Labs Helix secure mesh radio replaces the Herelink link used on the standard Astro Max, providing AES-encrypted C2 on compliant hardware
- Skynode mission computer running AuterionOS with LTE cloud connectivity, Auterion Mission Control integration, and fleet-wide telemetry in Auterion Suite
- 61 MP Sony LR1 primary payload option with user-selectable 24 mm, 35 mm, 50 mm, and 75 mm lenses and optional thermal or laser rangefinder modules
- Smart Dovetail quick-release payload interface with Pixhawk Payload Bus compatibility: swap sensors in seconds without tools
- Broad Blue/NDAA payload ecosystem including Freefly Flux LiDAR (L1, O1, H1), Sentera 65R, Sentera 6X Multispectral and Thermal, Workswell WIRIS Pro, NextVision DragonEye2, and the Sierra-Olympia Ventus OGI gas imager
- 28-minute flight time with the LR1 mapping payload: over 220 acres at 2 cm GSD in a single flight
- 21-inch folding props on a compact 14-inch airframe for long endurance, low acoustic signature, and precise station keeping
- u-blox F9P RTK GPS with 20+ satellite lock for centimeter-accurate positioning when paired with a Freefly RTK base station
- SuperLight SL8 21700 lithium-ion batteries with OLED status screen, USB-C PD output, hot-swappable field operation, and an industry-leading 500-cycle guarantee
- Pilot Pro ground control with 6+ hour runtime, Hall-effect gimbals, velocity clamps for fine-grained speed control, and dual safety kill switches
- Packs into two hard cases for rapid deployment by field crews and first responders
Compliance
| NDAA Section 848 | Compliant: free of covered foreign components per FY2020 NDAA |
| Blue UAS Framework | On the DIU Blue UAS Cleared List |
| Country of origin | Designed and assembled in Woodinville, WA, USA |
| Radio | Doodle Labs Helix secure mesh (NDAA compliant), replacing Herelink on this SKU |
| Remote ID | FAA Standard Remote ID pre-installed |
| Data security | AES-encrypted C2 link, signed firmware, Auterion Suite enterprise fleet management |
| Eligible buyers | DoD, federal civilian agencies, state and local government, public safety, utilities, Part 89 / 107 commercial operators |
Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Aircraft | |
| Configuration | Quadcopter, folding |
| Airframe size | 14 in (356 mm) square |
| Propellers | 21 in (533 mm) folding |
| Max payload | 3 kg (6.6 lb) |
| Max flight time (with LR1) | 28 minutes |
| Max flight time (no payload) | Up to 43 minutes |
| Coverage (LR1 mapping) | 220+ acres at 2 cm GSD per flight |
| Positioning | u-blox F9P RTK GPS, IMU, barometer, compass |
| Mission computer | Auterion Skynode with AuterionOS |
| Cloud connectivity | LTE modem, Auterion Mission Control, Auterion Suite |
| Radio and control | |
| Primary datalink | Doodle Labs Helix secure mesh (NDAA compliant) |
| Controller | Freefly Pilot Pro |
| Controller runtime | 6+ hours |
| Remote ID | Standard Remote ID, FAA compliant |
| Primary imaging (LR1) | |
| Sensor | Sony full-frame 61 MP |
| Lens options | 24 mm, 35 mm, 50 mm, 75 mm |
| Optional modules | Thermal (640 px radiometric, <40 mK), laser rangefinder |
| Geotagging | RTK-corrected image geotags |
| Payload interface | |
| Mount | Smart Dovetail quick-release |
| Bus | Pixhawk Payload Bus: power, MAVLink, Ethernet, serial, hardpoints |
| Compatible payloads | Freefly LR1 and LR1 Thermal, Flux L1 / O1 / H1 LiDAR, Sony Alpha 7R IV, Sentera 65R, Sentera 6X Multispectral / Thermal / Thermal Pro, Workswell WIRIS Pro, NextVision DragonEye2, Sierra-Olympia Ventus OGI, Emesent Hovermap ST / ST-X, and more |
| Power | |
| Battery | Freefly SuperLight SL8, 21700 Li-ion round cell |
| Battery features | OLED status display, USB-C PD output, CAN telemetry, hot-swap capable |
| Guaranteed cycles | 500 |
| Single-battery flight | Yes: continues flight on one pack in the event of an in-flight pack failure |
| Build and origin | |
| Design and assembly | Woodinville, Washington, USA |
| Compliance | NDAA Section 848, Blue UAS Cleared |
Mission-ready payload options
- Mapping. Sony LR1 (61 MP) for high-resolution orthomosaics, 3D models, and inspection stills. 28-minute flights, 220+ acres at 2 cm GSD.
- Thermal. LR1 + Thermal upgrade pairs the 61 MP RGB sensor with a 640 px radiometric thermal camera for substation inspection, wildfire response, and search and rescue.
- LiDAR. Freefly Flux L1 / O1 / H1 or Emesent Hovermap ST-X for mapping, powerline inspection, and GPS-denied autonomy with live point cloud on Pilot Pro.
- Multispectral. Sentera 6X and 65R for precision agriculture, vegetation management, and environmental monitoring.
- Specialty. Sierra-Olympia Ventus OGI for optical gas imaging, SPH Laser Falcon G2 for methane detection, Arktis FPG for airborne radiation detection, and Sixarms RF Analyzer for spectrum work.
Who this is for
- Federal agencies and DoD units required to purchase from the Blue UAS Cleared List
- State, local, and tribal public safety agencies operating under grant programs with NDAA compliance requirements
- Utilities and critical infrastructure operators conducting vegetation management, substation inspection, and asset surveys
- Mapping, survey, and inspection service providers contracted by government customers
- Emergency response teams needing a rapid-deploy platform for wildfire, SAR, and disaster assessment
What's included
- 1 × Freefly Astro Max aircraft (NDAA configuration, Doodle Labs Helix radio pre-installed)
- 1 × Freefly Pilot Pro controller
- 2 × SuperLight SL8 smart batteries
- 1 × SL8 multi-bay charger
- 1 × Smart Dovetail mount (payload sold separately unless ordered as a kit)
- 1 × Set of spare 21-inch folding propellers
- 1 × Hard transport case for aircraft
- 1 × Hard transport case for controller and accessories
- Printed quick-start and regulatory documentation
FAQ
How is this different from the standard Astro Max listing?
Same airframe, same flight performance, same Smart Dovetail payload ecosystem. The NDAA configuration replaces the Herelink 2.4 GHz radio with a Doodle Labs Helix secure mesh radio, is built from a vetted supply chain that meets NDAA Section 848, and is listed on the Defense Innovation Unit's Blue UAS Cleared List. If you are buying with federal funds or under a procurement policy that requires Blue UAS or NDAA compliance, this is the version you want.
What does NDAA Section 848 compliant mean?
Section 848 of the FY2020 National Defense Authorization Act prohibits federal departments and agencies from procuring or operating drones and components from certain covered foreign entities. NDAA compliant drones are built without those covered components. The Astro Max NDAA meets this requirement and is cleared for federal procurement.
What is Blue UAS, and is this drone on the Cleared List?
Blue UAS is a Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) program that vets and approves small drones for DoD and federal use. The Blue UAS Cleared List is the shortlist of aircraft that meet DoD cybersecurity and supply chain requirements. Yes, the Astro is on the Blue UAS Cleared List.
Can I use the same payloads as the standard Astro Max?
Mechanically, yes: all Smart Dovetail payloads fit either version. If you need the complete aircraft plus payload stack to remain NDAA and Blue UAS compliant, select a payload that is itself on the Blue UAS Framework or explicitly marked NDAA compliant. We can help match payloads to your procurement requirements.
What is the flight time with a payload installed?
Approximately 28 minutes with the Sony LR1 mapping payload, about 25 minutes with the LR1 + Thermal configuration, and roughly 20 minutes with heavier LiDAR payloads like the Emesent Hovermap. Unloaded endurance is up to 43 minutes.
Do you offer training and support for the NDAA version?
Yes. Training, onboarding, and ongoing support are identical to the standard Astro Max. We offer in-person and remote training for pilots, fleet managers, and data teams. Spare parts are stocked and ship same or next business day, and Freefly's US-based engineering and support teams back the aircraft directly.
Do I need a license to fly this drone?
In the United States, commercial operation requires an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate. Federal, state, and local agencies may operate under Part 89 / public aircraft rules depending on the mission. The aircraft ships with Standard Remote ID pre-installed to meet FAA Part 89 broadcast requirements.
What is the warranty period?
The Astro Max ships with Freefly's standard manufacturer warranty against defects in materials and workmanship. SL8 batteries are guaranteed for 500 cycles. Contact us for current extended care and service plan options.
Please note: This listing is the NDAA / Blue UAS Cleared configuration of the Freefly Astro Max. If you do not have a procurement requirement for NDAA or Blue UAS compliance, the standard Freefly Astro Max is typically the better value. Payloads sold separately unless ordered as a kit.
