Uncrewed Rotorcraft, Clean-Sheet Designs Vie For Contested Logistics

Graham Warwick May 14, 2025
Concept art of CLA Light (foreground) and CLA Heavy flying

The CLA Light (foreground) is a clean-sheet uncrewed system, while the optionally piloted CLA Heavy is a retrofitted nine-passenger aircraft.

Credit: Whisper Aero
Requirements are still in flux, but after years of experimenting with uncrewed cargo aircraft, industry senses an opportunity is opening up, and OEMs and startups alike are lining up to offer the Pentagon solutions to its contested logistics challenge. For decades, the U.S. military has enjoyed...
Graham Warwick

Graham leads Aviation Week's coverage of technology, focusing on engineering and technology across the aerospace industry, with a special focus on identifying technologies of strategic importance to aviation, aerospace and defense.

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