Leidos, Elroy Air Secure Approval to Demonstrate Autonomous Resupply Drone for Marines

Leidos and Elroy Air have received approval to demonstrate their autonomous Medium Aerial Resupply Vehicle-Expeditionary Logistics prototype for the Marine Corps.

An initiative of the Navy and Marine Corps Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems program office, MARV-EL is an unmanned logistics solution aimed at offering Marines a reliable way to receive supplies in situations where traditional ground or air deliveries are impractical, Leidos said.

Leidos and Elroy Air’s MARV-EL prototype uses the latter’s Chaparral system, a hybrid-electric vertical take-off and landing designed for autonomous cargo delivery. Leidos said the aircraft uses electric propulsion and advanced design for efficient long-range missions.

Leidos added that Chaparral’s modular design and automated features are expected to minimize personnel requirements and enable contactless cargo delivery.

Elroy Air co-founder Dave Merrill emphasized that Chaparral is designed with the safety of troops in mind and said the company looks forward to demonstrating its capabilities and supporting the Marine Corps‘ expeditionary logistics goals.

Flight tests are scheduled for July 2024 at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona.