Vanilla
Platform Aerospace solar-hybrid HALE UAS; $12.9M Navy RDT&E award April 2026.
Last refreshed: 18 April 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Will Vanilla RDT&E award lead to a full US Navy production contract?
Timeline for Vanilla
Procured under $12.9M Navy RDT&E contract for hardware, spares, engineering and logistics
Drones: Industry & Defence: Platform Aerospace wins $12.9M Navy Vanilla UAS RDT&E awardBackground
Vanilla is Platform Aerospace's solar-hybrid high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) unmanned aircraft, designed for multi-day persistent surveillance. On 15 April 2026 the US Navy awarded Platform Aerospace a $12.9 million RDT&E contract for Vanilla hardware, spares, and engineering services.
The Vanilla uses photovoltaic solar cells alongside an internal combustion engine to extend endurance beyond conventional fuel-only aircraft. This architecture targets maritime domain awareness and persistent ISR where satellite coverage is intermittent. The platform competes in the HALE segment where Northrop Grumman's Global Hawk dominates, but at significantly lower unit cost.
How long can the Vanilla drone stay in the air?
Written with AI from Lowdown's published reporting. Not individually reviewed by an editor. Updated 18 April 2026. Editorial standards.