{"id":"d076b65c-e593-40a1-a8fe-1d4241939fc9","name":"Blueflite","slug":"blueflite","description":"blueflite is a Michigan-based cargo drone OEM developing all-electric tilt-rotor unmanned aerial systems for logistics. Its flagship [Cobalt](/companies/cobalt-ai) 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.","status":"private","founded":2018,"hq":"Brighton, Michigan, USA","hqLat":43.6211955,"hqLng":-84.6824346,"hqGeocodedAt":"2026-08-05T14:22:29.918Z","hqAddress":null,"hqPrecision":null,"website":"blueflite.com","fundingTotal":"392888","type":"hardware","roles":["robot_maker","robot_operator"],"reviewStatus":"reviewed","heatIndex":79,"lifecycleState":"active","supersededByCompanyId":null,"sources":[{"url":"https://dronelife.com/2026/06/04/blueflite-added-to-faa-section-44807-approved-uas-list/","title":"Blueflite Added to FAA Section 44807 Approved UAS List","sourceName":"Dronelife","dateAccessed":"2026-07-22"},{"url":"https://www.blueflite.com/","title":"Blueflite","sourceName":"Company website","dateAccessed":"2026-07-22"}],"keyFacts":[{"label":"FAA Approval","value":"Cobalt 461 on FAA Section 44807 Approved UAS list (June 2026)"},{"label":"Applications","value":"Healthcare, public safety, defense, commercial delivery"},{"label":"Product","value":"Cobalt 461 cargo drone (FAA 44807 approved)"},{"label":"FAA approval","value":"Section 44807 Approved UAS list (June 2026)"},{"label":"Pilot","value":"Auto parts delivery in Detroit (Michigan AAM grant)"},{"label":"CEO","value":"Dr. Frank Noppel (co-founder)"},{"label":"CTO","value":"James McClearen (co-founder)"},{"label":"HQ","value":"Brighton, Michigan, USA"},{"label":"Products","value":"Cobalt 461 (cargo drone), SLATE (high-speed variant), blueDigital software suite"},{"label":"Affiliate","value":"Darkflite (public-sector/defense affiliate, AFWERX SBIR Phase II)"},{"label":"Regulatory milestones","value":"FAA Section 44807 Approved UAS List (June 2026), FCC Conditional Approval under Covered List framework (May 2026)"},{"label":"Total funding","value":"Over USD 3.4M in grants and crowdfunding (StartEngine Reg CF: USD 392,888 from 162 investors at USD 22M valuation)"},{"label":"Revenue","value":"Revenue-generating with annual turnover exceeding USD 1M (company-reported, Oct 2022)"},{"label":"Notable partnerships","value":"Jack Demmer Ford, Centrepolis Accelerator, Airspace Link, DroneUp, AFWERX, Michigan MEDC"}],"aliases":[],"collisionRisk":"low","reviewNote":null,"atsProvider":null,"atsSlug":null,"factoryLocations":null,"manufacturingCapacity":null,"orgType":null,"burnSignal":null,"litigationEvents":null,"insurancePostureDisclosed":null,"unitEconomicsDisclosed":null,"tickerSymbol":null,"stockExchange":null,"secCik":null,"revenueUsd":null,"revenueBasis":null,"revenueAsOf":null,"employeeCount":null,"employeeCountBasis":null,"employeeCountAsOf":null,"marketCapUsd":null,"marketCapAsOf":null,"marketCapSource":null,"createdAt":"2026-07-22T18:59:41.492Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-21T22:30:47.090Z","jsonLd":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Organization","@id":"https://registry.deploy.report/companies/blueflite","url":"https://registry.deploy.report/companies/blueflite","name":"Blueflite","description":"blueflite is a Michigan-based cargo drone OEM developing all-electric tilt-rotor unmanned aerial systems for logistics. Its flagship [Cobalt](/companies/cobalt-ai) 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.","identifier":"d076b65c-e593-40a1-a8fe-1d4241939fc9","foundingDate":"2018","address":"Brighton, Michigan, USA","publisher":{"@id":"https://deploy.report/#organization"}},"framework_metadata":{"framework_schema_version":"0.1.0","verification_status":"verified","maturity_stage":null,"lifecycle_state":null,"architectural_position":{"cohort":null,"sub_cohorts":[]},"within_cohort_verified_vs_claimed_pair":null,"cap_flags":[],"verification_depth":{"sources_count":2,"primary_source_types":[]}}}