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Royal Australian Navy Awards Transwing VTOL Drone Deal to PteroDynamics

The folding‑wing aircraft will speed ship‑to‑shore resupply by lifting off in tight deck spaces without launch gear.

Overview

  • The Royal Australian Navy contracted PteroDynamics to supply Transwing vertical takeoff drones for autonomous maritime logistics.
  • Deliveries of the smaller P4 units with training and technical support begin in spring 2026.
  • The deal includes an option for the larger P5 variant from 2027, rated for more than 400 nautical miles with a 50‑pound payload at about 70 knots.
  • Transwing folds its wings to switch from vertical lift to winged flight, which cuts deck footprint and removes the need for catapults or recovery nets.
  • PteroDynamics says this is its first international defence sale, following a 2025 demo for Australian forces that tested endurance, speed, climb, and payload handling over land and water.