Elroy Air
"Autonomous Aerial Cargo for the Middle Mile"
South San Francisco autonomous cargo VTOL developer; Chaparral carries 300 lbs over 300 miles crewless, selected for USDOT eVTOL Integration Pilot Program 2026.
Elroy Air is a US autonomous aerial systems company founded in November 2016 and headquartered in South San Francisco, California, with flight operations in Byron, CA. The company develops the Chaparral — a hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft carrying up to 300 lbs of cargo across up to 300 miles without an onboard crew, using 8 vertical and 4 forward propellers for safety-through-redundancy design. Chaparral completed its first point-to-point autonomous cargo delivery (213 lbs, 2.6 miles) in December 2024.
In March 2026, Elroy Air was selected as the only purpose-built heavy-payload cargo drone OEM for the USDOT's eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP), established under the White House's Drone Dominance Executive Order. Elroy Air has secured US military contracts (Army, Air Force, Marine Corps) and commercial agreements with FedEx, LCI, and Bristow Group, representing over $3 billion in future revenues. Total funding raised is $116M from Levitate Capital, Amplify Partners, and Homebrew.
CEO is Dr. Andrew Clare; co-founder David Merrill serves as Executive Chairman.
Primary type & automation activities this supplier delivers:
Chaparral
- Model: Chaparral C1
- Launch Year: 2024
Autonomous hybrid-electric VTOL heavy-cargo drone, no runway required.
Chaparral Cargo Pod
Modular aerial cargo pod for autonomous load/unload on the Chaparral.
Contact Elroy Air
WEBSITE
https://elroyair.comPHONE
415-874-6000HEADQUARTERS
United States
Company Facts
Founded
2016
Primary Role
Manufacturer
Company Size
-
Primary Region
North America
Annual Sales
-
Funding Stage
-
Funding Total
-
Elroy Air Raises $175 Million to Advance Chaparral Drone Production
Elroy Air has secured $175 million in expanded private investment commitments to scale production of its Chaparral autonomous cargo drone. This funding, which includes contributions from Lockheed Martin Ventures and Inflection Point, will support the transition from testing to large-scale manufacturing for military and commercial applications. The significance of this funding lies in Elroy Air's goal to enhance the Chaparral's capabilities, allowing it to carry over 500 pounds of cargo up to 450 miles without traditional infrastructure. The investment will accelerate production and enable the delivery of Chaparral drones to commercial and defense partners, particularly following a recent $46 million contract with the US Army. Looking ahead, Elroy Air aims to produce its first aircraft by late 2026, with manufacturing handled by Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in Sacramento, California. The company is focused on transforming successful demonstrations into large-scale production, leveraging its new financial resources to meet growing demand in logistics and defense sectors.
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Elroy Air has successfully completed its first fully autonomous, uncrewed flights of the Chaparral aircraft under the FAA’s eVTOL Integration Pilot Program. This milestone marks a significant advancement for commercial heavy-cargo drone operations in the United States. The Chaparral, designed to transport over 500 pounds of cargo for distances up to 450 miles, showcases the potential for autonomous drones in logistics, particularly in remote areas. The week-long flight campaign took place at Houma-Terrebonne Airport in Louisiana, demonstrating the aircraft's capabilities under air traffic control oversight. Looking ahead, Elroy Air aims to establish a framework for future commercial autonomous cargo operations. With a strong demand pipeline exceeding 1,400 aircraft and potential revenue exceeding $5 billion, the company is poised to play a crucial role in transforming logistics and aviation sectors.
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Elroy Air Completes First Autonomous Cargo Drone Flights with 500-lb Payload in Louisiana
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Elroy Air has secured a $46 million multi-year contract from the US Army to enhance its autonomous hybrid-electric VTOL cargo drone, the Chaparral. This contract aims to improve the drone's capabilities in challenging military environments, focusing on modular cargo delivery and operational efficiency alongside troops. The significance of this contract lies in its alignment with the Army's emphasis on 'contested logistics,' ensuring supply continuity amid disruptions. Elroy Air's Chaparral drone, capable of carrying over 500 pounds, is designed for operations without fixed infrastructure, making it ideal for remote or damaged locations. Looking ahead, Elroy Air plans to start manufacturing the Chaparral in the US later this year, partnering with Kratos Defense & Security Solutions. While the current focus is military, the company also aims to expand the drone's applications in commercial logistics and disaster response, indicating a broader market potential for autonomous cargo delivery.
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Elroy Air, a company focused on revolutionizing logistics through long-range cargo drones, is set to go public with an estimated valuation of around $1 billion. CEO Andrew Clare discussed the company's innovative heavy-payload aircraft during an appearance on Bloomberg Open Interest. He emphasized the strategic timing for entering public markets, citing increasing demand in the defense sector and the necessity for automation in U.S. supply chains as key factors driving the company's growth. Clare believes that the current landscape presents a unique opportunity for Elroy Air to scale its operations and replace traditional delivery trucks with advanced drone technology.
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