Companies demonstrate Transwing UAV for Australian Defence Force

The PteroDynamics Transwing P4 is an electrically powered UAV designed for maritime logistics, automated cargo delivery, and ISR roles. (Babcock)

PteroDynamics Inc and Babcock Australasia (Babcock) have demonstrated the Transwing autonomous vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to the Australian Defence Force (ADF).

The demonstration, which was conducted in April 2025, was held in support of the ADF's “growing pursuit of autonomous platforms”, Babcock said in a statement on 2 July.

Babcock – which has a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with PteroDynamics to pursue joint contract defence and civil sector opportunities across Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific – published images of the demonstration. The images show that two Transwing P4 UAVs were displayed for the ADF, with at least one being used in the flight display. A 15 kg payload was shown being loaded onto the UAV.

The UAV completed a “series of aerial tasks illustrating its endurance; performance over water; and ability to launch, transit, and recover various payloads within confined areas,” Babcock said. “Its speed passes and high-rate-of-climb capabilities were also displayed.”

The Transwing P4 is an electrically powered UAV that features movable wings that rotate dihedrally for VTOL and cruise modes. According to PteroDynamics, this design configuration means that the UAV occupies “one-third or less [of the] ground footprint than other VTOL aircraft with a comparable wingspan”. Specifications published by the company state that the UAV has a dash speed of 100 km/h.

Babcock said the Transwing has been designed to “execute long-range tactical shore-to-ship, ship-to-ship, and ship-to-shore deliveries of critical repair cargo in contested environments”.