Elroy Air Secures $46 Million U.S. Army Contract for Autonomous Cargo Drone
Elroy Air has been awarded a $46 million, multi-year contract by the U.S. Army to develop an autonomous hybrid-electric vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft system for military logistics.
The agreement builds on contracts Elroy Air has received from the Army over the past two years. Work under the new program will focus on the company’s Chaparral uncrewed aircraft system and its ability to deliver different types of payloads in contested and austere operating environments.
The program will address several technologies intended to support autonomous logistics operations, including modular payload systems, an expeditionary mobile mission planner, protected communications, navigation in GPS-denied or contested environments, and greater levels of autonomous operation. The system will also be evaluated for reliable operation under military field conditions.
Elroy Air’s Chaparral is designed to transport more than 500 pounds of cargo without requiring a runway or other fixed infrastructure. Its hybrid-electric propulsion system is designed to provide a range of up to 450 miles without relying on charging infrastructure. The aircraft uses modular cargo pods that can be configured for different missions.
The Army contract comes as the U.S. Department of War has identified contested logistics as one of six Critical Technology Areas. The focus reflects growing military interest in logistics systems that can continue operating when conventional supply routes and infrastructure are disrupted or attacked.
Elroy Air said it plans to begin manufacturing Chaparral aircraft in the United States later this year through a domestic manufacturing partnership with Kratos Defense & Security Solutions.
The company has also participated in T‑REX, a U.S. military testing and evaluation event focused on accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies.
