Flight Without an Aircraft or Runway: UK Develops Military Paraglider

The UK has unveiled the country’s first military powered paraglider, capable of foot-launched takeoffs without a runway.

The UK Ministry of Defence presented the project.

With around £6 million in funding from the Ministry of Defence, British start-up Blakcro developed foot-launched military paraglider systems.

According to the developer, the rucksack paraglider can be assembled in less than eight minutes and has a range of up to 322 km.

The pilot can launch the system using only their own leg power and the paraglider’s engine. These paragliders will allow troops to covertly infiltrate enemy territory without a runway, helicopter, or carrier aircraft.

The glider folds into a case roughly the size of a rucksack. It has a low acoustic, visual, and radar signature, allowing troops to remain undetected during infiltration missions.

The paraglider’s carabiner system can also accommodate body armor, night-vision devices, and weapon mounts.

The paraglider is also available in three variants:

• Foot-launched (P-Series).
• Multi-role trike (T-Series).
• Autonomous system – unmanned paraglider platform (U-Series).

With the support of UK Defence Innovation, the company will begin supplying these systems this year.

According to the UK Ministry of Defence, the technology is already being used in combat, with contracts signed across the country and with NATO allies. The Royal Marines and airborne forces plan to test the system in the coming months.

“With UK Defence Innovation supporting SMEs like Blakcro from the drawing board through to deployment, we are building a more resilient, homegrown defence supply chain and ensuring our armed forces receive the pioneering equipment that can give them the edge on the battlefield,” Luke Pollard MP, Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, stated.

The UK Ministry of Defence has adopted a new approach to working with industry, supporting British innovation to equip the country’s armed forces with cutting-edge technologies.