COLORADO SPRINGS—PteroDynamics announced a successful demonstration of the advanced capabilities of its automated Transwing vertical takeoff and landing UAS at the U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command-4th Fleet Hybrid Fleet Campaign Event on board the expeditionary fast transport USNS Burlington.

PteroDynamics demonstrated the Transwing aircraft to integrate UAS into the fleet for ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore logistics and critical maritime resupply missions. Over the course of six days starting Oct. 8, Transwing aircraft flew nine autonomous launch and recovery demonstrations from USNS Burlington in Key West, Florida.

The Hybrid Fleet Campaign Event focused on the evaluation of combined unmanned and manned systems to allow the U.S. 4th Fleet to execute its larger operational missions. It provided an invaluable experimentation venue for multiple developers of the latest technologies to embark with the operational force, evaluate operational capabilities of new innovative systems in a real-world environment, and receive feedback from Sailors and Marines.

It also served as an opportunity for senior leaders to see for themselves the capabilities of systems that could support the hybrid fleet. In attendance at the Hybrid Fleet Campaign Event were Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti and other representatives from the U.S. Navy, the United Kingdom Royal Navy, the Royal Australian Navy, the Royal Netherlands Navy and the Swedish Navy.

“Participating in The Hybrid Fleet Campaign Event brought us closer to our goal of providing the U.S. Navy with a flexible and scalable shore-to-ship, ship-to-ship, and ship-to-shore automated cargo delivery capability,” said Tim Whitehand, PteroDynamics’ vice president of engineering.

“Flight testing on board the USNS Burlington gave us a unique and valuable opportunity to collect performance data on the Transwing system in an operational environment. The information gathered during the event will accelerate development and seed further innovation.”