PteroDynamics has received a $4.65 million contract expansion from the U.S. Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) to develop the P5 Transwing UAS, an autonomous aircraft designed for ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore deliveries. The new contract raises the total BWUAS prototype contract value to over $7 million.

The P5 Transwing UAS will be a larger version of the P4 Transwing, which completed sea trials during the RIMPAC 2024 Exercise. It will have a 330-pound takeoff weight, carry 50-pound payloads and fly 400 nautical miles. The aircraft will use a hybrid electric/internal combustion engine that can run on JP-5 fuel.

CEO Matthew Graczyk says: “This sixth contract expansion is so significant because it calls for the clean-sheet design, build and demonstration of the next-generation P5 Transwing aircraft that will give the U.S. Navy an effective solution for automated just-in-time delivery of critical repair parts and supplies at sea.”

Most Navy logistics deliveries weigh under 50 pounds, yet manned aircraft like MH-60 helicopters and V-22 tilt-rotors are used for these missions. The BWUAS program, funded by the U.S. Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), seeks to demonstrate how UAS can improve efficiency, particularly in contested environments.

The P5 Transwing will feature satellite communications for BVLOS operations, detect-and-avoid (DAA) capabilities and autonomous multi-aircraft operations. It will also be transportable via C-130, C-17, CH-53 and CH-47 aircraft. If successful, PteroDynamics will qualify for an additional $5 million in funding, potentially increasing the contract’s total value to $12 million.