The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) has contracted PteroDynamics to supply Transwing vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS), as part of its initiative to advance autonomous maritime distributed logistics.
Under the agreement, PteroDynamics will provide P4 Transwing UAS units, together with training and ongoing technical support.
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The contract also grants RAN the option to acquire the larger P5 Transwing UAS aircraft beginning in 2027.
Deliveries of the P4 Transwing are scheduled for spring 2026.
The Transwing system is designed with a folding wing structure that transitions between vertical lift and fixed-wing horizontal flight. Its design allows operation without dedicated launch or recovery infrastructure and reduces ground footprint compared to other VTOL aircraft of similar wingspan.
The system features a maximum take-off weight of 41 kilogrammes (kg) and can carry up to 6.8kg of payload.
Should RAN exercise its option, the future P5 Transwing models will have a take-off weight of 145kg, a range exceeding 740km, and the ability to transport 23kg of cargo at a cruising speed of 36 metres per second.
PteroDynamics secured the order following an April 2025 demonstration of the P4 Transwing’s performance for Australian Defence Force and RAN representatives.
The event evaluated the aircraft’s endurance, speed, rate of climb and operational ability to launch, transit and recover payloads in confined environments both over land and water.
This marks the initial international defence sale of its Transwing VTOL UAS, PteroDynamics said.
PteroDynamics CEO Matthew Graczyk said: “With the growing strategic importance of the Indo-Pacific region and the trilateral AUKUS security partnership, Australia and the Royal Australian Navy have established a forward-looking vision for the role of autonomous uncrewed platforms for logistics missions in maritime environments.”
