Full-Time
Autonomous cargo VTOL for middle-mile logistics
$200k - $270k/yr
No H1B Sponsorship
Byron, CA, USA
Hybrid
Hybrid on-site work is required for close collaboration with engineering and lab environments.
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Elroy Air builds autonomous cargo aircraft for middle-mile logistics. Its Chaparral is a hybrid-electric VTOL unmanned system that carries 300–500 pounds up to 300 miles, autonomously handling modular cargo pods for pickup and drop-off without the need for runways or charging infrastructure. It sells aircraft to commercial and government customers through an OEM model, backed by partnerships with Kratos for U.S. production and active defense programs, including a multi-year Army contract. The company aims to scale safe, autonomous aerial delivery globally, reducing dependence on ground transport and reshaping supply chains.
Company Size
11-50
Company Stage
N/A
Total Funding
$270M
Headquarters
South San Francisco, California
Founded
2016
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Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Life Insurance
Disability Insurance
401(k) Retirement Plan
401(k) Company Match
Paid Parental Leave
Unlimited Paid Time Off
Mental Health Support
Company Equity
Flexible Work Hours
* you are here * home * U.S. Army Awards Elroy Air $46M for Autonomous Hybrid-Electric Cargo Aircraft. U.S. Army Awards Elroy Air $46M for Autonomous Hybrid-Electric Cargo Aircraft. [Dated: 19 Aug 2026] The U.S. Army awarded Elroy Air a $46 million multiyear contract to develop the Chaparral autonomous hybrid-electric VTOL cargo aircraft into a more capable system for resupplying forces in contested, Some of its valuable clients. Quick links. Communication. Business with tendernews. Policy statements. Quick contact. * info(at)tendernews.com
Elroy Air and Columbus Circle Capital Corp II have confidentially submitted a draft registration statement with the SEC for their proposed business combination. The transaction values Elroy Air at $800 million pre-money, with an expected enterprise value of approximately $1.0 billion following closing. The deal includes more than $165 million in committed PIPE capital, which will fund commercial-scale production of Elroy Air's Chaparral autonomous cargo drone. The company will manufacture the aircraft with partner Kratos Defense & Security Solutions. Upon closing, expected in the fourth quarter of 2026, the combined company will trade on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol "ELRY". Chaparral is a vertical takeoff and landing drone capable of carrying 500-plus pounds of cargo up to 450 miles, serving defense, commercial logistics, and rapid response markets. The transaction is subject to regulatory and shareholder approval.
Elroy Air demonstrates multiple unattended delivery modes with cargo drone. Wednesday, July 29th, 2026 Elroy Air on Wednesday said it recently demonstrated three modes of autonomous cargo delivery for the Army using the company's fixed-wing hybrid-electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. The demonstration at the company's California headquarters included two payload drops in a single flight on July 15 of a 68-pound payload in a close-in hover and a 70-pound release from 65 feet during forward flight without personnel required at the delivery points. A separate ground delivery involved the aircraft releasing the payload... Not a subscriber or registered user yet? Please contact us at [email protected] or call us at 888-707-5814 (Monday - Thursday 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. and Friday 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. ET.), to start a free trial, get pricing information, order a reprint, or post an article link on your website.
Army drone delivers cargo in autonomous demo. A developer of autonomous heavy-cargo drones for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) said its latest model can now deliver payloads in three ways: precision airdrop from a hover, precision airdrop in A developer of autonomous heavy-cargo drones for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) said its latest model can now deliver payloads in three ways: precision airdrop from a hover, precision airdrop in forward flight, and ground delivery, each executed without personnel or ground infrastructure at the receiving site.Byron, California-based Elroy Air announced those new unattended delivery modes for its Chaparral drone, developed under contract with the U.S. Army. The private firm is planning to g Why this matters. An autonomous drone, designed for heavy cargo, has successfully demonstrated new delivery capabilities. It can now drop payloads from a hover, while in forward flight, or deliver them directly to the ground. All these methods operate without human intervention or ground support. This advancement has significant implications for e-commerce. Imagine a scenario where a surge in demand for a product occurs. Traditional delivery times, often around 5-7 days, can lead to stockouts. With autonomous drone delivery, potentially reducing last-mile transit times to under 3 hours for certain high velocity items, brands could bypass congested logistics networks. This means less reliance on extensive safety stock and more responsive inventory management. SupliiChain recommends brands begin evaluating their high-demand SKUs for drone deliverability by mapping their current lead times against potential drone transit times. Utilize the drone feasibility analyzer to identify which product categories could benefit most from this future logistics innovation, allowing for proactive adjustments to reorder points and inventory holding strategies. industry news dc velocity demand-planning By SupliiChain Team Updated: July 29, 2026
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions will manufacture Elroy Air's Chaparral autonomous cargo aircraft at its expanding Sacramento, California facility. The company expects to increase its current workforce of over 450 high-tech employees by more than 50 as production ramps up. The Chaparral is a hybrid-electric, vertical takeoff and landing autonomous cargo aircraft designed to transport over 500 pounds of payload up to 450 miles without traditional airport infrastructure. It serves both commercial middle-mile logistics and military resupply operations. Kratos is the exclusive US manufacturer of the Chaparral, with first production aircraft planned for late 2026. Elroy Air recently announced a demand pipeline exceeding 1,400 aircraft, representing over $5 billion in potential revenue from customers including Bristow Group, FedEx, and others. The expanded Sacramento facility will create positions across aircraft technicians, composite manufacturing specialists, assemblers, engineers, and quality assurance, bringing Kratos' regional workforce to over 500 employees.