Leidos (NYSE:LDOS), a FORTUNE® 500 innovation firm, and Elroy Air, an autonomous plane methods and software program growth firm, have been permitted to display an autonomous Medium Aerial Resupply Automobile – Expeditionary Logistics (MARV-EL) prototype for the Navy and Marine Small Tactical Unmanned Plane Programs program workplace (PMA-263). The flight check actions are scheduled for July 2024. The event and testing are a part of a contract awarded final yr to develop and display an uncrewed plane system that may autonomously resupply forward-deployed floor forces for the U.S. Marine Corps.
“Leidos is happy to staff with Elroy Air to deliver this vital functionality to the warfighter,” stated Tim Freeman, Leidos senior vice chairman and Airborne Programs enterprise space supervisor. “Approval to proceed to check is a significant milestone and is the results of months of onerous work by the staff. We look ahead to demonstrating how the Leidos and Elroy Air MARV-EL answer will assist ship a logistics benefit to the Marines and different branches of the army.”
Leidos and Elroy Air are slated to display 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 complicated carbon composite airframe and modular automated payload capabilities to assist scale back the personnel required versus legacy plane and allow zero-touch logistics.
“We’re excited to work with Leidos to supply these vital capabilities to U.S. and allied forces,” stated 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 look ahead to 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, must be the “middle-weight” unmanned logistics asset, offering fight sustainment to Marines when floor or manned aviation property are unavailable on account of menace, 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 world workforce of 47,000 collaborates to create smarter expertise options for purchasers in closely regulated industries. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, Leidos reported annual revenues of roughly $15.4 billion for the fiscal yr ended December 29, 2023. For extra data, 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 automobile applied sciences, their vertical-takeoff-and-landing (VTOL) plane transcend conventional airport limitations, unlocking new frontiers in industrial air delivery, humanitarian support, and army 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 prospects. With headquarters in South San Francisco and flight check operations in Byron, California, Elroy Air is backed by premier enterprise capital corporations together with Catapult Ventures, Marlinspike Companions, Snowpoint Ventures, and Protect 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 particular person on the planet. For extra data, go to elroyair.com.
