Leidos (NYSE:LDOS), a FORTUNE® 500 innovation firm, and Elroy Air, an autonomous plane methods and software program improvement firm, have been authorised to show an autonomous Medium Aerial Resupply Automobile – Expeditionary Logistics (MARV-EL) prototype for the Navy and Marine Small Tactical Unmanned Plane Methods program workplace (PMA-263). The flight take a look at actions are scheduled for July 2024. The event and testing are a part of a contract awarded final 12 months to develop and show an uncrewed plane system that may autonomously resupply forward-deployed floor forces for the U.S. Marine Corps.
“Leidos is happy to group with Elroy Air to deliver this crucial functionality to the warfighter,” mentioned Tim Freeman, Leidos senior vp and Airborne Methods enterprise space supervisor. “Approval to proceed to check is a significant milestone and is the results of months of exhausting work by the group. We stay up for demonstrating how the Leidos and Elroy Air MARV-EL resolution will assist ship a logistics benefit to the Marines and different branches of the navy.”
Leidos and Elroy Air are slated to show Elroy Air’s Chaparral system on the U.S. Military Yuma Proving Floor in Yuma, Arizona. The Chaparral is a “lift-plus-cruise” hybrid-electric vertical take-off and touchdown (hVTOL) cargo plane. The Chaparral system leverages the advantages of wing-borne flight pushed by electrical propulsion and turbo-generation for environment friendly autonomous operations and longer-range missions. It’s designed with a sophisticated carbon composite airframe and modular automated payload capabilities to assist cut back the personnel required versus legacy plane and allow zero-touch logistics.
“We’re excited to work with Leidos to supply these crucial capabilities to U.S. and allied forces,” mentioned Elroy Air CEO and co-founder Dave Merrill. “We’ve been designing Chaparral from the start to maneuver cargo and resupply troops within the battlespace with out placing crews in hurt’s means. We stay up for demonstrating these capabilities and dealing towards serving the U.S. Marine Corps’ targets for expeditionary logistics.”
MARV-EL is a PMA-263 effort designed to supply commanders with a responsive functionality to maintain Marine Corps Forces conducting expeditionary superior base and different distributed operations. MARV-EL, utilizing autonomous operations, needs to be the “middle-weight” unmanned logistics asset, offering fight sustainment to Marines when floor or manned aviation belongings are unavailable as a consequence of risk, terrain, climate, or competing priorities.
About Leidos
Leidos is a Fortune 500® innovation firm quickly addressing the world’s most vexing challenges in nationwide safety and well being. The corporate’s international workforce of 47,000 collaborates to create smarter expertise options for patrons in closely regulated industries. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, Leidos reported annual revenues of roughly $15.4 billion for the fiscal 12 months ended December 29, 2023. For extra info, go to www.leidos.com.
About Elroy Air
Elroy Air is creating industry-first autonomous plane methods and cutting-edge software program, revolutionizing the world of specific delivery. Leveraging hybrid-electric and autonomous car applied sciences, their vertical-takeoff-and-landing (VTOL) plane transcend conventional airport limitations, unlocking new frontiers in business air delivery, humanitarian support, and navy logistics. From agile, low-risk resupply for troops, to dynamic catastrophe response and firefighting help, to warehouse-to-warehouse specific parcel transport, their expertise reshapes logistics potentialities. With headquarters in South San Francisco and flight take a look at operations in Byron, California, Elroy Air is backed by premier enterprise capital companies together with Catapult Ventures, Marlinspike Companions, Snowpoint Ventures, and Defend Capital. Strategic funding from {industry} giants like Lockheed Martin Ventures and help from visionary angel traders together with early Uber executives drive the corporate’s mission to supply same-day delivery to each individual on the planet. For extra info, go to elroyair.com.