:

Unmanned Systems

Pyka’s New Autonomous Cargo Drone Conducts Parachute Airdrops

By Cal Biesecker

Thursday, June 11th, 2026

SHARE:

Pyka’s New Autonomous Cargo Drone Conducts Parachute Airdrops

Pyka's DropShip cargo drone conducting a parachute airdrop during a test. Photo: Pyka

Shortly following its first flight, Pyka on Thursday said it recently demonstrated autonomous low-altitude parachute airdrops using its fixed-wing unmanned DropShip cargo aircraft that is designed for long-range military logistics operations in contested environments. Pyka said the June 4 demonstration included autonomous delivery of “multiple 200-pound payloads from an altitude of 300 feet, landing within 50 feet of the intended target location.” Since then, DropShip is flown more airdrop tests with plans to get to drops of 400 pounds and…

Congress

U.S. Fighter Fleet Will Expand By 2040 But More Stealth Aircraft Will Mean Less Availability, CBO Says

The number of fighter aircraft in the U.S. military inventory will decline over the next few years before expanding to a greater number than currently, but their availability for operational […]

Congress

White House Details ‘Concerns’ With Shipbuilding, Spaced-Based Interceptor Oversight In House’s NDAA

The White House has detailed “a number of concerns” with the newly-passed House version of the next defense policy bill, to include the legislation’s limits on procuring Navy ships built […]

Congress

House Narrowly Votes To Pass $1.15 Trillion FY ‘27 NDAA, Blueprint For Reconciliation 3.0

The House on Wednesday narrowly voted to pass its $1.15 trillion version of the fiscal year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and a blueprint for a third reconciliation bill […]

Congress

Senate Appropriators Press On Supplemental’s Requests Beyond Iran Scope, Hegseth Urges Full Funding

Senate appropriators have pressed Pentagon leadership on the decision to include funds in the Iran war supplemental request for items beyond the current military operation, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth […]