UK to trial paragliders for covert operations

The Royal Marines and The Parachute Regiment are to trial the use of paragliders for long-range covert operations, the MoD has announced. (Blackro)

The UK is to trial the use of paragliders for long-distance covert operations, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on 28 August 2026.

The man-portable paragliders from UK startup company Blakcro will be tested by the Royal Marines and The Parachute Regiment later in 2026 and into 2027 to enable British soldiers to fly independently out to a range of 200 miles (321.9 km).

“An MoD-backed UK start-up has developed the UK's first foot-launched military paraglider, which can take off with no runway, helicopter or drop aircraft required,” the MoD said, adding, “The gliders can be assembled in under eight minutes, in darkness, and are capable of travelling up to 200 miles on their own power.”

The MoD did not disclose how the paragliders are powered, except to say that they have a low acoustic signature which suggests they are electrically driven (Blackro's website was not publicly accessible at the time of publication). The MoD added that they have low visual and radar signatures also. The airframe accommodates body armour, night vision equipment and weapon mounts, while the technology is already in operational use with an undisclosed customer, with contracts held across the UK and with NATO allies.

As noted in the announcement, the MoD has invested GBP6 million (USD8.2 million) into Wilstshire-based Blakcro under its UK Defence Innovation (UKDI) programme, which it described as its “front door” for companies that have not previously worked with the ministry.

For more, please see Hamas uses paragliders to breach Israeli border