HENSOLDT has put its High Altitude Drop Infiltrating System (HADIS) through a key flight test, launching a scaled-down version from an A400M transport aircraft.
During the trial, the company flew a one-third-scale version, successfully demonstrating parachute-based extraction and autonomous waypoint navigation.
In practice, once an aircraft’s cargo ramp opens, HADIS is pulled out by chute and transitions into a controlled glide, with navigation managed from the ground, from the aircraft, or through onboard autonomous systems.
The recent test was backed by the German Armed Forces and overseen by the Bundeswehr Technical Center for Aircraft and Aeronautical Equipment.
The milestone moves the program closer to its next phase with HENSOLDT aiming to deliver a full-scale cargo glider demonstrator by the end of 2026.
Silent Supply From the Sky
Designed as a disposable platform, HADIS is built to deliver supplies to special forces operating deep behind enemy lines.
It features a lightweight wing-and-fuselage structure, with control electronics embedded in the wings and the payload housed in the central fuselage.
The system can carry 500 kilograms (1,100 pounds) of cargo over distances of up to 120 kilometers (75 miles) after release from an aircraft.
The absence of a propulsion system allows the glider to operate quietly, reducing its chances of being detected.
Unlike traditional parachute delivery systems, HADIS’s longer glide range reportedly keeps the launch aircraft safely outside high-risk zones.
Multiple gliders can also be deployed from a single transport container, enabling coordinated drops to shared or separate landing areas.
