Elroy Air has been awarded a $46 million multi-year contract from the U.S. Army to further develop its autonomous hybrid-electric Chaparral vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) uncrewed aircraft system for modular, multi-mission cargo delivery. The award builds on the company's previous Army contracts and targets logistics operations in contested and infrastructure-limited environments.
The program will enhance Chaparral's modular payload capabilities and delivery mechanisms, while advancing technologies including GPS-denied navigation, cyber-protected communications, elevated autonomy, expeditionary mission planning, and reliable operation under military conditions.
Chaparral is designed to transport more than 500 pounds of cargo without requiring runways, airstrips, or fixed receiving infrastructure. Its hybrid-electric powertrain provides a range of up to 450 miles without requiring charging infrastructure, while interchangeable cargo pods allow the aircraft to be configured for different missions.
The aircraft's lightweight structure also relies on composite materials, supporting the weight efficiency required for a heavy-lift autonomous platform. Its VTOL architecture combines distributed lift propulsion with forward-flight propellers, allowing the aircraft to transition from vertical operations to efficient cruise flight.
The contract comes shortly after Elroy Air demonstrated new unattended delivery capabilities for Chaparral. In a July 15, 2026 test, the aircraft released a 68-pound payload from a close-in hover and a 70-pound payload from 65 feet during forward flight, completing both deliveries during a single sortie.
Elroy Air plans to begin U.S. production later in 2026 through an exclusive manufacturing partnership with Kratos Defense & Security Solutions. The Army contract has an estimated completion timeline extending to 2029, with $5.14 million in FY2026 research, development, test, and evaluation funds obligated at the time of award.
The development strengthens the role of lightweight composite-intensive autonomous aircraft in military logistics, particularly where conventional supply routes are vulnerable or fixed aviation infrastructure is unavailable.
Source: Elroy Air | News
