NavAir selected Near Earth Autonomy for uncrewed system.
NAVAIR-Near Earth Autonomy Agreement: Pittsburgh, PA — In a significant step forward for naval logistics, the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) has awarded Near Earth Autonomy (Near Earth) a contract to develop an aircraft-agnostic autonomy solution for uncrewed ship-to-shore and shore-to-ship operations. The agreement, executed through an Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) under the Naval Aviation Systems Consortium (NASC), aims to enhance the U.S. Marine Corps’ capabilities for resilient, autonomous logistics in contested maritime environments.
Enabling Resilient Operations Without GPS
Most current uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) operations depend heavily on infrastructure such as GPS and continuous data links. When these are unavailable—or actively denied—mission success becomes difficult or, in some cases, impossible. Near Earth Autonomy’s technology directly addresses these vulnerabilities by allowing UAS to perform complex maritime logistics tasks independently, without reliance on external navigational aids. This includes shore-to-ship, ship-to-ship, and ship-to-shore transfers, dramatically increasing operational resilience for naval forces.
The Firefly Compact: Small, Versatile, and Capable
Central to the initiative is Near Earth’s Firefly compact autonomy system, a lightweight, aircraft-agnostic platform that weighs just 2 pounds. Designed for integration with a wide range of uncrewed aircraft, Firefly expands the applicability of autonomous maritime operations across Class 3 and Class 4 platforms. The system has already been successfully integrated with platforms from BAE, L3 Harris, and Pterodynamics, proving its versatility and robustness.
Under the NAVAIR contract, Near Earth will mature multiple capabilities, including:
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Autonomous confined-area operations
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Ship recovery in emissions-controlled (EMCON) environments
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GPS-free navigation
“This contract with the Navy is a key next step, maturing our autonomous systems performance for maritime missions,” said Sanjiv Singh, CEO of Near Earth Autonomy. “We will build upon our past work on compact systems for uncrewed aerial logistics. This effort supports the Navy’s ability to perform resilient, reliable maritime operations across aircraft.”
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Building on a Legacy of Autonomous Innovation
The Firefly system represents the culmination of over 13 years of Near Earth’s innovation in defense autonomy. The company’s work began with the Autonomous Aerial Cargo/Utility System (AACUS), which pioneered rotorcraft autonomy for Marine Corps resupply missions. Subsequently, Near Earth miniaturized the Joint Capability Technology Demonstration (JCTD) system for the Unmanned Logistics Systems Air (ULS-A), proving the feasibility of autonomous small UAS operations in confined areas.
NAVAIR later selected Near Earth for the U.S. Marine Corps Aerial Logistics Connector program, demonstrating optimized logistics using rotorcraft. Firefly now marks the latest advancement, enabling small cargo UAS operations for programs such as the Marine Corps’ Tactical Resupply Unmanned Aircraft System (TRUAS).
Testing and Operational Validation Ahead
To ensure the system meets operational requirements, the contract includes a series of rigorous test events designed to validate performance, refine operational procedures, and verify system capabilities in realistic scenarios. These efforts will culminate in a full-scale demonstration at Patuxent River in September 2026, highlighting the system’s ability to conduct ship searching, deck tracking, night operations, and autonomous flights between moving vessels.
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A Leap Toward Autonomous Naval Logistics
As modern naval operations face increasingly contested and GPS-denied environments, the need for resilient logistics has never been greater. Near Earth Autonomy’s Firefly system offers a path forward, enabling reliable, flexible, and autonomous maritime operations that enhance mission success and operational safety for the U.S. Marine Corps and Navy.
With this contract, the Navy moves closer to a future where uncrewed aircraft can independently execute complex supply missions, bridging the gap between ship and shore even under the most challenging conditions.
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