Parallel Flight advances Firefly UAS into a cost-effective, purpose-built platform, adapting its exceptional specs with heavy fuel for maritime naval operations
“This contract validates our hybrid powertrain architecture and demonstrates enthusiasm for Firefly as a next-generation UAS platform”— Craig Stevens, CEO
فن آوری های پرواز موازی (PFT), a leader in heavy-lift, hybrid-powered unmanned aerial systems (UAS), has been awarded a $3.74 million Sequential Phase II SBIR contract to modify its flagship aircraft, کرم شب تاب, for maritime operations. The contract, funded by the Office of Naval Research (ONR), marks a significant milestone in expanding the UAS’s mission versatility for deployment in harsh marine environments to support maritime logistics, littoral surveillance, and ONR RDT&E activities.
Under the contract, the maritime Firefly will be modified to operate from naval vessels with features such as heavy fuel (JP-5) compatibility, advanced deck-landing sensors, saltwater corrosion protection, flotation devices, deck-locking mechanisms, and expanded Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) testing.
Parallel Flight’s NDAA-compliant Firefly is produced in the USA and widely regarded as a “heavy-lift workhorse.” A two-person-portable quadcopter that fits in the back of a pickup truck, Firefly is optimized for expeditionary defense and industrial missions. Its patented Parallel Hybrid Electric Multirotor (PHEM) propulsion system enables payloads up to 100 lb (45 kg) and endurance 10x greater than all-electric UAS, while also supplying 2 kW of continuous in-flight power to payloads. The platform is protected by five patents and supported by DIU, USDA, NASA, and NSF.
“This award is a powerful vote of confidence in the technology we’re building at Parallel Flight,” said Craig Stevens, CEO of Parallel Flight Technologies. “It validates our hybrid powertrain architecture and demonstrates enthusiasm for Firefly as a next-generation UAS platform. The maritime Firefly is just the beginning—this dual-use technology will not only expand critical military capabilities but also unlock a wide range of public and commercial opportunities, from logistics and disaster response to environmental monitoring and precision agriculture.”
The maritime-capable Firefly will support advanced naval missions—including mine countermeasures, underwater vehicle detection, and hydrographic surveys—addressing a critical capability gap with a cost-effective, domestically produced, long-range VTOL solution. Commercial applications are also on the horizon. Firefly’s extended endurance, VTOL design, and heavy payload capacity position it as a high-impact solution for offshore logistics, medical delivery, island resupply, and more.
“This contract is not just about building a better drone,” Stevens added. “It’s about exploring the full potential of our parallel hybrid electric propulsion technology to increase the utility of unmanned systems for the military and industry, alike.”
سارا عبدی
فن آوری های پرواز موازی
Visit us on social media:
... یادداشتهایی از SP
Image credit: فن آوری های پرواز موازی
درباره نویسنده
English 
Deutsch 
Italiano 
Français 
Svenska 
Nederlands 
Español 
Português do Brasil 
עִבְרִית 
العربية 
हिन्दी 
فارسی 
日本語 
한국어 
Bahasa Indonesia 
繁體中文 
简体中文 
Polski 
Русский 
Українська
داستان های بیشتر
ایرباس توسط آژانس دفاعی اروپا برای گسترش قابلیتهای پهپاد کاپا-ایکس خود انتخاب شد.
شرکت Parallel Flight Technologies معافیت FAA 44807 را دریافت کرد و بدین ترتیب راه برای عملیات تجاری پهپادهای هیبریدی سنگینبار در ایالات متحده هموار شد.
شرکتهای «پارالِل فلایت تکنالاجیز» و «آلفا آنمند سیستمز» برای توسعه پهپادهای با سوخت سنگین در راستای تحقیقات نیروی دریایی ایالات متحده با یکدیگر همکاری میکنند.
FAA Steps Up Enforcement Against Unsafe Drone Operations
New DARPA $2.5 Million Challenge Zeroes In On Drone Payloads To The First-Place Finishers
نیروی دریایی فرانسه اولین اپراتور سامانه هوایی بدون سرنشین عمودی Aliaca ایرباس خواهد شد.
فرانسه سامانه هوایی بدون سرنشین (UAS) ایرباس VSR700 را سفارش داد