Navy Drone Fly-Off to Test 46-Mile Range Goal
The Navy wants a heavy-fuel resupply drone that can carry 100 pounds 46 miles, a target the battery-electric TRV-150C cannot meet.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Robotics
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The Navy has invited companies to a January 25 to February 5, 2027 fly-off in Huntsville, Alabama, for a second-generation Marine Corps resupply drone. Companies have until November 30 to apply. The status is announced, not yet awarded.
Why it matters
The requirement asks for a heavy-fuel aircraft that can fly far farther than the current battery-electric TRV-150C, signaling a push for longer-range autonomous logistics for the Marine Corps. Top-ranked entries may receive prototype agreements that could lead to production without further competition.
The requirement specifies a minimum cruise speed of 50 knots, a maximum altitude of 1,000 feet, a preferred maximum takeoff weight of 350 pounds, and a 150-pound minimum payload on a second sortie covering 11.5 miles out and back. Each selected aircraft must fly up to five autonomous sorties, with one operator controlling up to four aircraft over encrypted radios without GPS.
The players
U.S. Navy
The Navy operates the TRV-150C program and issued the Increment II requirement through its Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Robotic and Autonomous Systems.
U.S. Marine Corps
The Marine Corps plans to issue three to six drones to every logistics battalion by 2028 for tactical resupply.
U.S. Army
The Army evaluated the same TRV-150C airframe at Fort Stewart, Georgia, and may share flight data through its drones.mil marketplace.
The details
The Navy wants a drone that carries supplies to Marines in the field, and the fly-off will test whether candidate aircraft can meet the range, payload, and speed targets. The current TRV-150C is battery-electric, with eight rotors on four arms, which limits its range. The requirement calls for heavy-fuel propulsion to extend flight distance while keeping autonomous operation and GPS-free control.
Timeline
October 30, 2026: The Navy posted the Increment II requirement.
November 13, 2026: Technical questions are due.
November 30, 2026: Companies must apply for the fly-off.
January 25 to February 5, 2027: The fly-off runs in Huntsville, Alabama.
December 18, 2026: Selections are set.
The Tech Race
The Increment II requirement moves the Navy's resupply effort beyond the battery-electric TRV-150C, which was declared operational in October 2023 after the first 21 drones were bought for $8.4 million. The Navy's push for heavy-fuel, longer-range autonomous aircraft places it in competition with other military drone programs seeking extended endurance.
Companies that want to compete must apply by November 30, 2026, and the fly-off will determine which designs advance. The result could affect how Marine Corps logistics battalions receive drones, with three to six planned for each by 2028.
The takeaway
Watch the December 18, 2026 selection announcement, which will show which heavy-fuel designs advance to the January 2027 fly-off in Huntsville. Whether top entries receive prototype agreements that lead to production without further competition will be the next signal.
What happens next
Technical questions are due November 13, 2026, applications close November 30, 2026, selections are set for December 18, 2026, and the fly-off runs January 25 to February 5, 2027 in Huntsville, Alabama.
Further reading
For broader context, explore the latest in Robotics developments shaping military and logistics applications.
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