Bristow Group has expanded its reservation for Elroy Air’s Chaparral autonomous cargo aircraft, securing 10 additional early delivery positions and bringing its total reservations to 15 aircraft.
The move builds on Bristow’s previous reservation for five early delivery positions and a pre-order agreement for up to 100 Chaparral aircraft as the company evaluates potential applications for autonomous cargo operations.
The expanded reservation follows autonomous, uncrewed flight demonstrations of the Chaparral in Houma, Louisiana, conducted as part of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and U.S. Department of Transportation’s eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP). The demonstrations involved government and industry partners.
Bristow Executive Vice President and Chief Transformation Officer David Stepanek said the demonstrations provided an opportunity to assess how Chaparral could support transportation and logistics missions. The company is evaluating potential applications across commercial operations, government services and special missions.
Bristow and Elroy Air have been working together for several years to assess the use of autonomous cargo aircraft in logistics operations. The companies are exploring missions where aircraft range, operational flexibility, and limited infrastructure requirements could provide practical benefits.
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The Chaparral is an uncrewed autonomous VTOL aircraft designed to carry more than 500 pounds of cargo without requiring runways, airstrips, or other fixed infrastructure. Its hybrid-electric propulsion system provides a claimed range of up to 450 miles without requiring charging infrastructure.
The aircraft uses interchangeable cargo pods that can be configured for different payloads and mission requirements, supporting applications across multiple logistics roles.
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, the exclusive US manufacturer of the Chaparral, will produce the aircraft at its expanding facility in Sacramento, California. The first production aircraft is planned for late 2026.
The expanded reservation strengthens the ongoing collaboration between Bristow and Elroy Air as both companies continue evaluating autonomous cargo aircraft for commercial, government, and special-mission operations.
