Stork STM parafoil UAV to take place in navy trials

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Animal Dynamics is set to take part in the next phase of the Royal Navy’s Uncrewed Aerial Systems Heavy Lift Challenge (UASHLC) with its Stork STM parafoil UAV.

Animal Dynamics

Stork STM is an autonomous aerial logistics vehicle that is capable of beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations carrying payloads weighing 135kg over 400km. The Oxford-based company said that this payload capacity has been chosen as it is an optimum weight to resupply an eight-person section for two days.

UASHLC Phase 2 is a joint endeavour between Defence Equipment & Support’s (DE&S) Future Capability Group and the Royal Navy’s Office of the Chief Technology Officer and 700X Naval Air Squadron. It aims to explore potential use cases for uncrewed technologies to deliver supplies and equipment from ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore and vice versa.

Animal Dynamics demonstrated the Stork STM’s ability to carry substantial payloads over a large distance as part of a pre-selection flying competition that took place in 2022. The Stork STM will now continue to the next round of UASHLC testing, with flight trials planned to take place in Cornwall.

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heavy lift UAV