PteroDynamics & AV Demonstrate Integrated EW Capabilities for U.S. Navy

PteroDynamics and AeroVironment recently completed a series of joint technology demonstrations at the Silent Swarm 25 exercise to showcase integrated electronic warfare capabilities on a Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS).

The collaboration, hosted by the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division at the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center in Michigan, involved the integration of multiple AeroVironment Electronic Warfare (EW) sensors onto the PteroDynamics P4 Transwing. During the exercise, the aircraft successfully completed three scenarios in multi-domain environments, focusing on the observation, detection, and effect of representative threats to inform future U.S. Navy littoral surveillance operations.

The Transwing is a Group 3 platform designed to offer the speed and endurance of fixed-wing systems combined with superior VTOL performance. Its unique design allows the wings to unfold as it transitions between vertical and horizontal flight, providing stability and gust tolerance while occupying a ground footprint significantly smaller than other VTOL aircraft of a comparable wingspan. This compact design enables operations from confined or remote locations, such as the tree-lined shores of Lake Huron where the team operated during the exercise.

Tim Whitehand, PteroDynamics Vice President of Engineering, said, “PteroDynamics’ Transwing VTOL UAS with AV’s EW payloads demonstrated important new capabilities in a realistic and challenging operational environment. We are excited to have worked closely with AV to equip the Transwing with these innovative EW capabilities. The Transwing’s compact footprint, rapid and disturbance-resilient transition, and highly efficient wing-borne flight enable operations from confined or remote locations without runways, making it an ideal platform for maritime littoral operations.”

AeroVironment provides open-architecture EW chassis and sensors intended to support mission planning and tactical awareness. These systems are engineered to reduce integration timelines for various intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance platforms. The modular architecture of the Transwing allowed the team to integrate and flight test the EW payload in a single day.

Conrad Smith, General Manager of Electronic Warfare Systems at AV, added, “Our open, interoperable EW systems are strategically engineered to reduce payload integration timelines for airborne, maritime, and ground ISR platforms, helping us meet unique mission needs with speed and scale. By participating in events, like Silent Swarm 25, and innovating alongside other industry leaders, like PteroDynamics, we are expanding mission-critical capabilities for the U.S. Navy.”

The exercise also marked a regulatory milestone for PteroDynamics, which received a Special Airworthiness Certificate–Experimental Category (SAC-EC) from the Federal Aviation Administration for the P4 Transwing. This certificate allowed the 89 lb aircraft to fly in U.S. national airspace for the first time following a seven-month review process. While previous Navy demonstrations involving the platform took place at sea, including RIMPAC 2024, the FAA certification highlights the increasing maturity and safety of the autonomous system.