The verified answer
As of Sep 2026, DEPLOY verifies Blueflite: 1 model, 2 deployments across 2 regions, $392,888 raised. 2 sources back the record.
CategoryDrones
Overview
blueflite is a Michigan-based cargo drone OEM developing all-electric tilt-rotor unmanned aerial systems for logistics. Its flagship Cobalt 461 platform (54.98 lb MTOW) features independently actuated tilt-rotors, carbon composite airframe, and integrated cargo compartment for last-mile delivery. The company also offers the SLATE high-speed variant and a digital software suite (blueControl, bluePilot, blueBrain, blueDelivery). blueflite serves healthcare, automotive, defense, and commercial logistics markets, with its affiliate Darkflite securing AFWERX SBIR contracts for U.S. Air Force medical logistics.
Verified record
- Verified deployments
- 2 deployments on file
- Active incidents
- None on file
Valuation of record
DEPLOY VERIFIEDPriced roundSeed post-money
Key facts
FAA Approval
Applications
Product
FAA approval
Pilot
CEO
CTO
HQ
Products
Affiliate
Regulatory milestones
Total fundingsee investors →
Revenue
Notable partnerships
Data & sources
Web sources
2
2 sources backing this record.View all →
Models (1)
View all models →Partnerships
Every company Blueflite has built with, alongside the ones only announced in a press release.
Most-frequent partners
Most recent
- operating
- operating
Blueflite on the deployment map
View the global map2 verified deployments across 2 regions, newest verified Dec 2025. Explore where Blueflite's robots are operating, by place and type.
View the full Blueflite deployment record →
Relationships
Current leadership (2)
- Dr. Frank Noppel Co-Founder and CEOsecondary-verified
- James McClearen Co-Founder and CTOsecondary-verified
Founders (2)
Safety record
No incidents on record for Blueflite.
Only active incidents are counted. Retracted incidents are excluded from this summary but remain reachable at their canonical URLs.
Full safety record: incidents, sourcing, and exposure data →
Operator customers (1)
- Blueflite2 deployments
Recent coverage
Blueflite in third-party press
Peer companies
- Amazon25 models
- Anduril Industries7 models
- DJI7 models
- Autel Robotics4 models
- Baykar4 models
- Earendil Robotics4 models
Financial state
- Total funding
- $392,888
- Reporting basis
- private_disclosed
- Lifecycle stage
- early
- Counterparty risk class
- moderate
Each numeric field carries its own basis marker. Aggregators report a number; this surface preserves the source class so verification depth travels with the value.
Partnerships
2 total · 2 operating
Every company Blueflite has built with, alongside the ones only announced in a press release.
Most recent
- operating
- operating
Most-frequent partners
Funding rounds (1)
- Seed2022-10-01
$392,888 · $22M post
Investors: StartEngine (Reg CF)
Timeline
Every recorded move in Blueflite’s history, most recent first: funding rounds, partnerships, acquisitions, supply-chain starts, key hires, and press.
Partnershipblueflite/Darkflite x AFWERX (SBIR Phase II)
2025-09-01Darkflite (blueflite public-sector affiliate) selected for AFWERX SBIR Phase II contract valued over USD 1.2M to address rapid military medical emergency response logistics for the Department of the Air Force. Includes development of blood delivery capabilities for trauma response sites.
Partnershipblueflite x Jack Demmer Ford (Auto Parts Drone Delivery)
2025-07-22Pilot project delivering automotive parts by drone to Ford dealerships in Southeast Michigan, backed by USD 740,000 from Michigan AAM Activation Fund. Partners include Jack Demmer Ford, Centrepolis Accelerator, Airspace Link, and DroneUp. Drones operate within a 12-mile radius.
Funding roundSeed funding round
2022-10-01Seed raising $392888
Recent activity
Every change to this record is dated, sourced, and independently verified where marked.
- Record createdJul 22, 2026
Added to the verified registry
- Deployment verifiedVerifiedDec 17, 2025
Cobalt 461 at Traverse City, Michigan, USA
- Deployment verifiedVerifiedJul 22, 2025
Cobalt 461 at Detroit
Sources (2)
Common questions
What is Blueflite?
What does Blueflite make?
Is Blueflite publicly traded?
Who competes with Blueflite?
Who is the CEO of Blueflite?
How can I invest in Blueflite?
Where is Blueflite headquartered?
How much funding has Blueflite raised?
Who owns Blueflite?
Where does Blueflite operate robots?
How many robots has Blueflite deployed?
Is Blueflite a top robotics company?
When was Blueflite founded?
Is Blueflite safe?
Methodology: Verified · 2 sources (no primary) · last reviewed 2026-08-21
Verification posture
Verified
Low confidence
Review state
Stable
Last reviewed 2026-08-21
Sources by quality tier
- 2
- unclassified
- Unclassified source
The framework is documented at /methodology. Corrections at /corrections. Reviewer: DEPLOY editorial team.
Methodology surface for Blueflite.Peer companies
- Amazon25 models
- Anduril Industries7 models
- DJI7 models
- Autel Robotics4 models
- Baykar4 models
- Earendil Robotics4 models
In the press
Recent coverage mentioning Blueflite from third-party publications. Automatically surfaced; not part of the verified registry record.
Blueflite Added to FAA Section 44807 Approved UAS List
Blueflite Cobalt 461 cargo drone added to FAA Section 44807 Approved UAS list. Piloting auto parts delivery in Detroit with state grant.
Blueflite Added to FAA Section 44807 Approved UAS List
Blueflite is pleased to announce that the blueflite Cobalt 461 platform has been added to the FAA’s Section 44807 Approved UAS list as of June 1, 2026. This represents an…
Blueflite Receives FCC Conditional Approval Under New Covered List Framework
U.S.-manufactured COBALT 46 platform among select systems cleared through national security review process Detroit, MI / Brighton, MI — blueflite announced today that the Federal…
Blueflite Named Best New Commercialized Product at Centrepolis Accelerator 2025 Awards
Blueflite has been recognized with the Best New Commercialized Product award at the Centrepolis Accelerator 2025 Client & Partner Awards, hosted by Lawrence Technological…
Blueflite, Charles Darwin University partnership to expand drone range capacity hits milestone
An innovative partnership between a US drone manufacturer and CDU is delivering results. See what’s up. October 22, 2025 Charles Darwin University’s commitment to advancing drone…
Search and Rescue Missions with the U.S. Coast Guard
On 10 September 2025, blueflite flew alongside the U.S. Coast Guard at Yuba Airport in Grand Traverse County, building on our joint demonstration in May at Discovery Pier in…
Blueflite Drones to Deliver Auto Parts in Detroit
blueflite leads a pilot project delivering automotive parts by drone to Ford dealerships in Southeast Michigan, backed by a USD 740,000 grant from Michigan AAM Activation Fund…
State-Backed Drone Initiative Takes Off: Blueflite Drones to Deliver Auto Parts in Detroit
DETROIT, MI – July 17, 2025 – blueflite, Jack Demmer Ford, Centrepolis Accelerator, Airspace Link, and DroneUp have joined forces to launch a pioneering drone delivery initiative…
Blueflite and Airspace Link Combine Forces on High-Performance Drone Logistics Projects
Partnership Leverages Michigan’s AAM Activation Fund to Revolutionize Automotive Parts Delivery Detroit, MI – July 17, 2025 — At Reindustrialize 2.0, Michigan’s flagship advanced…
Blueflite | Michigan Business Success Story
Michigan MEDC profile of blueflite: Brighton-based cargo drone OEM, Make It in Michigan prototyping grant recipient, with affiliate Darkflite securing a USD 1.2M+ AFWERX SBIR…
Machine-readable surfaces
- Markdown mirror: /companies/blueflite.md
- RSS feed: /companies/blueflite/feed.xml
- JSON-LD: embedded in this page’s head
- REST API: /v1/companies/d076b65c-e593-40a1-a8fe-1d4241939fc9
- Revision history: /companies/blueflite/history
- Data documentation: /data
- Query this programmatically: Deploy MCP
Peer companies
- Amazon25 models
- Anduril Industries7 models
- DJI7 models
- Autel Robotics4 models
- Baykar4 models
- Earendil Robotics4 models
Video
Prepare for takeoff... without a runway. Follow @blueflite473 as we move shipping companies deliver from the sky, without additional infrastructure. #blueflite #deliveryDrones #NowShipping #AirMail #CargoDrones #Ra
With people needing goods faster than ever. The shipping industry is racing to find better ways to ship goods. Not only do they need speed, but around-the-clock
You're package is too precious to be exposed to the elements. Whether it's emergency medical equipment, critical factory parts, or food - no one wants it to get
Attention Professional Investors. Enjoy an extra 20% of shares investing in blueflite's intelligent delivery drone solutions through Start Engine. Invest toda
Walk with us as CEO Frank Noppel gives us an Office Tour at the blueflite headwaters located in Brighton, Michigan.
Watch as a 4-year-old kid's birthday party idea turns into a world-class aerial logistics company. Meet the CTO James McClearen and hear how blueflite got sta
“If you want to make a reliable product, you really need to test it, you need to validate it all the way down to the component level.” James McClearen, CTO of
🚁 Lifesaving cargo takes flight! Blueflite’s drones will deliver critical medical supplies across Louisiana, backed by Ochsner Health and Acadian Ambulance. Ca
Blueflite joins Terra Drone in a groundbreaking UAV logistics initiative, backed by Japan’s METI. Their advanced cargo drones will enhance supply chains in Indo
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyZ9qOwCvhEz84Sk2gGNfaw/join Join the Whisper Club to get advance access to Whisper Reports and all the Whispers about upcoming
Heat Index
Category contender79/100
A composite of competitive footprint, funding, press velocity, active partnerships, and supply-chain edges. Different from the Intelligence score below (which is per-form-factor productization). Non-robotics companies cap at 25.
Reality vs attention
Blueflite draws attention at the 36th percentile but verifies reality at the 51st percentile among aerial robots. Hype Gap -14.9, 89th widest among aerial robots.
6-month trend
Analysis
Clean safety record across 2 verified deployments. Funding runway warrants monitoring: last known round 48 months ago.
Signal flags
Dimension breakdown
Verified signal
Attention (reach, not merit)
DEPLOY Intelligence scores are computed from verified registry data: confirmed deployments, disclosed funding rounds, regulatory filings, active job listings, video viewership, and press coverage. Confidence ratings reflect data availability. Scores update nightly.
DEPLOY Indices — verified vs claimed
Last computed: Sep 7, 2026