Meet ‘Vanilla’: This Ultra-Long Endurance UAV Can Fly For 10 Days, Launch Microdrone Swarm

It’s not your typical Technical. In fact, it’s not a Technical at all. This new ultra-long endurance drone is launched from the back of a pickup truck; but, unlike the improvised battlewagons that have emerged in various forms since World War I, the unmanned machine is a highly sophisticated system that can remain airborne for up to 10 days; travel long distances; and launch its own swarm of 40 microdrones.

The aircraft, known as “Vanilla,” went through trials in June at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam. The trials were held as part of Valiant Shield 24, a biennial field training exercise in the Indo-Pacific region.

The aircraft was tested for its capacity to provide airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.

“A lot of systems can do this, but the long flight times are of interest,” a Navy source told Soldier of Fortune.

A 2023 manufacturer’s video shows Vanilla Unmanned being launched from the backs of pick-up trucks as they barrel along flat surfaces. These types of launches also appear in a video produced by the British military.

According to the manufacturer, Platform Aerospace, the Vanilla Unmanned can carry a 150-pound payload, and range for 15,000 nautical miles.

It also can carry and launch swarms of up to 40 microdrones.

“These systems are individually guided disposable units designed for remote meteorological sensing while airborne or as unattended ground sensors,”  the manufacturer wrote in a press release. 

The technology is extensible to other applications, the manufacturer noted.

A representative from Platform Aerospace did not respond to a request for comment.