The Defense Advanced Research and Projects Agency has chosen six companies to move forward on an experimental, low-weight drone that can take off and land vertically from a ship. The companies DARPA selected for its ANCILLARY program — AeroVironment, Griffon Aerospace, Karem Aircraft, Method Aeronautics, Northrop Grumman, and Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky — will now further develop and refine their proposed ANCILLARY designs.
DARPA wants ANCILLARY to lead to a future drone that can be deployed and retrieved from Navy ships without large mechanical launchers or landing and recovery equipment. These drones could carry cargo, conduct intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, and track and target enemies beyond a ship’s line of sight.
Formal flight tests of the overall design are expected to start in early 2026, DARPA said. Northrop Grumman and Sikorsky are already conducting flight tests on their ANCILLARY versions, which have unique design features to meet DARPA’s requirements.
These small drones must be able to take off and land like a helicopter from the flight decks of ships or rough surfaces in most weather conditions, and then fly missions like a winged aircraft, DARPA said. It also must be able to carry large payloads and fly for long distances when needed. Furthermore, the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps are the primary branches expected to use this technology, although it could also be useful for the Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, and U.S. Special Operations Command.
