RESTON,
Va., May 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Leidos (NYSE:
LDOS), a FORTUNE® 500 innovation company, and Elroy Air, an
autonomous aircraft systems and software development company, have
been approved to demonstrate an autonomous Medium Aerial Resupply
Vehicle – Expeditionary Logistics (MARV-EL) prototype for the Navy
and Marine Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems program office
(PMA-263). The flight test activities are scheduled for
July 2024. The development and
testing are part of a contract awarded last year to develop and
demonstrate an uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) that can autonomously
resupply forward-deployed ground forces for the U.S. Marine
Corps.
"Leidos is pleased to team with Elroy Air to bring this critical
capability to the warfighter," said Tim
Freeman, Leidos senior vice president and Airborne Systems
business area manager. "Approval to proceed to test is a major
milestone and is the result of months of hard work by the team. We
look forward to demonstrating how the Leidos and Elroy Air MARV-EL
solution will help deliver a logistics advantage to the Marines and
other branches of the military."
Leidos and Elroy Air are slated to demonstrate Elroy Air's
Chaparral system at the U.S. Army Yuma
Proving Grounds (YPG), Yuma,
Arizona. The Chaparral is a "lift-plus-cruise"
hybrid-electric vertical take-off and landing (hVTOL) cargo
aircraft. The Chaparral system leverages the benefits of wing-borne
flight driven by electric propulsion and turbo-generation for
efficient autonomous operations and longer-range missions. It is
designed with an advanced carbon composite airframe and modular
automated payload capabilities to help reduce the personnel
required versus legacy aircraft and enable zero-touch
logistics.
"We're excited to work with Leidos to provide these critical
capabilities to U.S. and allied forces," said Elroy Air CEO and
Co-founder Dave Merrill. "We've been
designing Chaparral from the beginning to move cargo and resupply
troops in the battlespace without putting crews in harm's way. We
look forward to demonstrating these capabilities and working
towards serving the U.S. Marine Corps' goals for expeditionary
logistics."
MARV-EL is a PMA-263 effort which is designed to provide
commanders with a responsive capability to sustain Marine Corps
Forces conducting expeditionary advanced base (EAB)and other
distributed operations. MARV-EL, using autonomous operations,
should be the 'middle-weight' unmanned logistics asset, providing
combat sustainment to Marines when ground or manned aviation assets
are unavailable due to threat, terrain, weather, or competing
priorities.
About Leidos
Leidos is a Fortune 500® innovation company rapidly addressing
the world's most vexing challenges in national security and health.
The company's global workforce of 47,000 collaborates to create
smarter technology solutions for customers in heavily regulated
industries. Headquartered in Reston,
Virginia, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately
$15.4 billion for the fiscal year
ended December 29, 2023. For more
information, visit www.leidos.com.
About Elroy Air
Elroy Air is developing industry-first autonomous aircraft
systems and cutting-edge software, revolutionizing the world of
express shipping. Leveraging hybrid-electric and autonomous vehicle
technologies, their vertical-takeoff-and-landing (VTOL) aircraft
transcend traditional airport limitations, unlocking new frontiers
in commercial air shipping, humanitarian aid, and military
logistics. From agile, low-risk resupply for troops, to dynamic
disaster response and firefighting support, to
warehouse-to-warehouse express parcel transport, their technology
reshapes logistics possibilities. With headquarters in South San Francisco and flight test operations
in Byron California, Elroy Air is
backed by premier venture capital firms including Catapult
Ventures, Marlinspike Partners, Snowpoint Ventures, and Shield
Capital. Strategic investment from industry giants like Lockheed
Martin Ventures and support from visionary angel investors
including early Uber executives drive the company's mission to
provide same-day shipping to every person on the planet. For more
information, visit elroyair.com.
Certain statements in this announcement constitute
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the rules and
regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
These statements are based on management's current beliefs and
expectations and are subject to significant risks and
uncertainties. These statements are not guarantees of future
results or occurrences. A number of factors could cause our actual
results, performance, achievements, or industry results to be
different from the results, performance, or achievements expressed
or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors
include, but are not limited to, the "Risk Factors" set forth in
Leidos' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 29, 2023, and other such
filings that Leidos makes with the SEC from time to time.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such
forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof.
Leidos does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to
reflect the impact of circumstances or events that arise after the
date the forward-looking statements were made.
Media Contacts:
Melissa Lee Dueñas
(571) 526-6850
duenasml@leidos.com
Alyssa Pettus
(571) 526-6743
alyssa.t.pettus@leidos.com
Brandon Ver Velde
(571) 526-6257
brandon.p.vervelde@leidos.com
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SOURCE Leidos Holdings, Inc.