On August 19th, the U.S Navy and Marine Corps Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System program office under the Naval Air Systems Command announced that it had concluded performance evaluations of the Kaman Aerospace Kargo and the Elroy Air-Leidos Chaparral platforms. These two platforms are the final contenders competing to serve as the prototype basis for the two services’ Medium Aerial Resupply Vehicle – Expeditionary Logistics (MARV-EL) autonomous cargo requirement.
The Chaparral C1 eVTOL is the flagship product of U.S-based startup Elroy Air. The aircraft features a hybrid-electric propulsion system, powering eight VTOL propellers and four forward facing ones. Cargo is transported via modular pods that can be attached to the bottom of the fuselage, with the platform featuring a payload capacity of 300lbs. The Chaparral is designed for a cruising speed of 143mph and has a range of 300 miles. Along with military institutions such as the Navy and Marine Corps, Elroy is marketing its platform as a solution to range of potential commercial and state customers.
