Chaparral at T-REX 26–2: Autonomous Cargo, On-Demand Power, and the Future of Contested Logistics
T-REX, run by the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering (OUSW R&E) Mission Capabilities, is the U.S. military’s premier test and evaluation event, designed to accelerate the adoption of emerging technologies across the Joint Force. Getting an invitation to T-REX means your system is ready to be stress-tested in real conditions, alongside real operators, with real mission requirements on the line.
This spring, Elroy Air brought Chaparral to T-REX 26–2 at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. Here’s what happened:
First Stop on the 2026 Road Trip
Chaparral arrived at Camp Atterbury after a 2,300-mile road trip, packed into a standard road trailer, no special equipment required.
One of the most underappreciated challenges in defense logistics is getting complex systems downrange without a convoy of support equipment, forklifts, specialized packaging, or lengthy reassembly processes. Chaparral was designed from the ground up to solve that problem. When it arrived on base, it was ready to fly.
The Deliveries
Over the course of the week, Chaparral completed a series of autonomous missions, traveling over 60 kilometers in a single sortie. On the final delivery mission, the Army provided the cargo, and Chaparral carried 233 pounds over a distance of 12 km.
These weren’t fully scripted demonstrations — our Defense partners made on-the-fly requests, changing cargo configurations and adjusting how we operated within military airspace. Our team adapted without missing a beat.
Every mission Chaparral flew was exactly on time. Punctuality may sound like a small thing, but in military operations, it’s everything.
Power at the Tactical Edge
Chaparral’s hybrid-electric architecture does something that most cargo drones don’t: it generates 50 kilowatts of onboard power both in the air and on the ground. That’s enough to charge batteries for soldiers’ devices, run communications and observation systems, power medical equipment, or keep temperature-sensitive cargo viable during transit.
At the tactical edge, where forward operating positions may lack reliable power infrastructure, this changes the calculus of what a resupply mission can accomplish. You’re not just delivering supplies. You’re delivering capability.
As our partners said again and again, Chaparral is a game-changer.
What Comes Next
We’re launching new contracts with our Marine Corps and Army partners to prepare Chaparral for seamless integration into military operations in contested environments. We’re honored to provide autonomous cargo delivery to safely resupply troops without putting people in harm’s way.
We’re grateful to the Indiana National Guard and everyone at Camp Atterbury for hosting us, and to the OUSW R&E team for the opportunity to demonstrate what Chaparral can do under real conditions.
Elroy Air builds Chaparral, an autonomous heavy-cargo drone designed for multi-mission logistics in contested environments. Learn more at elroyair.com.
