PteroDynamics, an innovator in autonomous vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft systems, and AeroVironment (AV), a leading provider of electronic warfare (EW) capabilities, have successfully collaborated on a joint technology demonstration at Silent Swarm 25. The event was hosted by the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane Division at the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center in Michigan. The companies integrated multiple AV EW sensors onto the PteroDynamics P4 Transwing autonomous VTOL unmanned aircraft system (UAS), showcasing a range of maneuver capabilities available to warfighters.
Equipped with AV’s EW payloads, the Transwing successfully completed three scenarios in operationally relevant, multi-domain environments—observing, detecting, and countering various representative threats to inform future U.S. Navy littoral surveillance operations.
“PteroDynamics’ Transwing VTOL UAS with AV’s EW payloads demonstrated important new capabilities in a realistic and challenging operational environment,” said Tim Whitehand, PteroDynamics Vice President of Engineering. “The Transwing’s compact footprint, rapid transition, and highly efficient wing-borne flight make it ideal for maritime littoral operations.”
“Our open, interoperable EW systems reduce payload integration timelines for airborne, maritime, and ground ISR platforms, helping us meet unique mission needs with speed and scale,” said Conrad Smith, General Manager of Electronic Warfare Systems at AV. “By innovating alongside industry leaders like PteroDynamics, we are expanding mission-critical capabilities for the U.S. Navy.”
The Group 3 Transwing platform offers the speed, range, and endurance of fixed-wing systems with superior VTOL performance. It unfolds its wings to transition smoothly between vertical and horizontal flight, requires no launch or recovery infrastructure, and occupies one-third the ground footprint of comparable VTOL aircraft. During Silent Swarm 25, the Transwing flew from confined zones along Lake Huron’s shoreline, and the team integrated and flight-tested the AV EW payload in a single day.
