Scaling American-Made UAS: Building a Sustainable, NDAA-Compliant Future

By Nick Grewal, CEO & President, ePropelled

The future of the U.S. unmanned aerial system (UAS) industry is at a turning point. As we navigate the demands of scalability, sustainability, and compliance, one thing is clear-our industry must innovate to maintain a strong, self-sufficient industrial base.

At AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2025, I’ll be joining fellow OEM leaders in a panel discussion on how we can work together to overcome key challenges and drive the next generation of UAS technologies. The conversation will be critical-addressing everything from manufacturing at scale to NDAA compliance and the importance of supply chain collaboration.

The Scalability Challenge

In today’s UAS industry, scalability isn’t just about growth-it’s about capability. Developing cutting-edge UAS technology is meaningless if we can’t manufacture it at scale. The reality is that higher production costs for domestic systems make it difficult for American-made solutions to compete globally.

So, how do we shift the industry toward large-scale production without sacrificing quality or economic viability? The answer lies in strategic collaboration-between OEMs, suppliers, investors, and policymakers. We need clear government investment strategies, targeted R&D funding, and accelerated pathways for volume manufacturing that make it economically viable to produce NDAA-compliant systems at scale.

At ePropelled, we understand scalability from both a technological and manufacturing perspective. Our high-efficiency electric propulsion systems are designed to meet both commercial and military demands, ensuring adaptability and performance.

NDAA Compliance & The Future of U.S. Manufacturing

NDAA compliance is no longer just a regulatory requirement-it’s a critical benchmark for investment, acquisition, and long-term industry resilience (see Technology Gamechanger blog) The challenge, however, is ensuring that emerging companies meet these strict compliance standards without stifling innovation.

This is where initiatives like DARPA’s Materials Development for Platforms (MDP) program come in, aiming to reduce the materials development cycle from 10 years to under three years through an integrated approach of materials science, engineering, and platform-level design. Programs like these help ensure that next-generation UAS technologies remain competitive and ready for deployment.

Supply Chain Partnerships & Modular Design

Success in the UAS industry depends on a strong supply chain and manufacturing ecosystem. Companies must balance cost-effective global supply chains with the need to support a domestic, self-sustaining industrial base-a challenge that requires strategic trade-offs.

One of the ways forward is modularity in UAS design. Modularity enables interchangeability, adaptability, and scalability, making it easier to mass-produce systems while customizing platforms for specific missions. It’s not just about efficiency-it’s about future-proofing UAS technology for evolving commercial and military needs.

The Road Ahead

As we continue shaping the future of American-made UAS, collaboration and innovation remain at the heart of our success. We must build scalable, NDAA-compliant, and sustainable solutions that strengthen our industrial base, ensuring that U.S. technology remains competitive on a global scale.

I look forward to discussing these issues in depth at AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2025, where I’ll be joining Peter Fuchs (President, Ascent AeroSystems) and Tobin Fisher (CEO, Vantage Robotics) in this important discussion, moderated by Miriam McNabb (Editor-in-Chief, DRONELIFE).

Join the Discussion

Originally published at https://epropelled.com on May 19, 2025.