US Army tests TRV-150 drone to support faster medical response in NATO drills.

On May 15, 2025, senior U.S. Army leaders visited the multinational HOSPEX medical exercise in Vepriai, Lithuania, a component of the larger Swift Response 25 drill. The visit featured key observations of medical training activities and drone resupply demonstrations, reflecting the U.S. Army’s ongoing effort to evaluate new unmanned systems, such as the TRV-150 and Flying Basket drones, in field care logistics within NATO exercises. These systems were tested to assess their ability to deliver medical supplies in high-risk areas where conventional resupply methods are limited by terrain, exposure, or enemy threat.
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In Lithuania, simulated blood deliveries by the TRV-150 drone were carried out in real-time training scenarios, highlighting how drone integration may improve casualty care under operational conditions. (Picture source: US DoD)

Brigadier General Karen S. Monday-Gresham, commanding general of the 7th Mission Support Command, and Colonel Tracy Michael, commander of the 68th Theater Support Command, observed this training firsthand, witnessing the use of TRV-150 and Flying Basket drones to replicate rapid resupply missions where time-sensitive, life-saving items such as blood must reach forward field medical positions. Their utility lies in overcoming terrain and threat constraints that hinder conventional methods, ensuring that medical materials are delivered faster and with less risk to human personnel. The drone’s ability to reach remote or contested zones without requiring a convoy or helicopter enables a more responsive casualty care system, especially in areas under threat of enemy observation or fire. This capability is especially critical during the “golden hour,” when delays in resupply can drastically reduce survival chances for wounded personnel.

Medical resupply by drone is becoming increasingly relevant as operations shift to dispersed, contested environments where maintaining logistical lines can be extremely difficult. Blood products in particular require timely delivery and careful handling, conditions that drones like the TRV-150 are increasingly able to meet. Its development followed success in the 2019 Tactical Resupply UAS Challenge, earning the drone a Navy production contract worth $8.4 million in April 2023. The goal of the U.S. Army’s experimentation with drone logistics is to improve survivability for wounded soldiers, increase the speed of resupply, and ensure continuity of care in forward operating areas where traditional methods are constrained by tactical realities.

In this context, the TRV-150, produced by Malloy Aeronautics and distributed in the United States by SURVICE Engineering, has steadily become central to U.S. military logistics trials. Declared operational by the U.S. Marine Corps in October 2023, this demonstration in Lithuania followed earlier tests, including during Bold Quest 24 and cold-weather operations in the Arctic, where the TRV-150 delivered water, medical items, and even real blood under field conditions. These exercises confirmed that the drone could function reliably in extreme climates and diverse terrains, providing a versatile option for autonomous resupply. With a cruising speed of 108 km/h and a flight time of 36 minutes, the system offers rapid delivery in scenarios where time and precision are critical.

The TRV-150 has steadily become central to U.S. military logistics trials, as operations shift to dispersed, contested environments where maintaining logistical lines can be extremely difficult. (Picture source: US DoD)

The TRV-150 is an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) drone with a maximum payload capacity of 68 kilograms, allowing it to carry various classes of supplies, including class VIII medical materials such as blood. It has a range of 70 kilometers and a cruise speed of 108 kilometers per hour. The system is equipped with autonomous waypoint navigation and a modular configuration designed for compact storage and single-operator deployment. Its structure includes foldable propeller booms and fixed skid landing gear, enabling rapid setup and use in multiple environments, including rain, desert, mountainous terrain, and Arctic conditions. The drone can deliver cargo either by landing or via mid-flight release, providing multiple delivery modes. It is intended to reduce the reliance on ground convoys and helicopter missions for resupply in contested or logistically constrained environments.

The use of the TRV-150 is part of ongoing efforts within the U.S. military to adopt unmanned aerial logistics systems that prioritize speed, operational flexibility, and reduced exposure to threats. In medical logistics, the system is employed to transport blood, medicine, and lightweight equipment between rear supply points and frontline units. The TRV-150 has been integrated into broader initiatives such as Project Crimson, which utilizes FVR-90 drones to deliver real blood to medics, and Project Convergence, which has tested the use of autonomous drones for medical deliveries in desert environments. The U.S. Marine Corps declared initial operational capability for the TRV-150C in October 2023 and plans to field three to six Tactical Resupply Unmanned Aircraft Systems (TRUAS) per logistics battalion by 2028. These developments align with efforts to enhance logistical support and maintain supply continuity in dispersed and high-risk operational settings.

In parallel, the U.S. Army continues to explore future cargo drone capabilities through contracts with Near Earth Autonomy-Kaman and Piasecki Aircraft for heavy-lift UAVs designed to carry over 360 kilograms across distances exceeding 160 kilometers. These programs complement medium-lift solutions like the Kaman KARGO UAV. Collectively, such systems are intended to transform logistics under fire, enabling fast, secure, and flexible resupply operations in both high-risk and degraded environments. As battery technology evolves, military planners anticipate improvements in payload, range, and in-flight recharging capabilities, paving the way for expanded unmanned logistics operations across all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.

The use of the TRV-150 is part of ongoing efforts within the U.S. military to adopt unmanned aerial logistics systems that prioritize speed, operational flexibility, and reduced human exposure to threats. (Picture source: US DoD)