U.S. Air Guard to buy motorized paragliders for silent infiltration flights
The North Carolina Air National Guard, part of the U.S. military's reserve force, has issued a solicitation (W50S87-26-Q-5004) to purchase two backpack-mounted powered paragliding systems (paramotors) for silent infiltration missions. The systems are designed to allow a single service member to launch on foot, fly undetected with minimal radar and heat signatures, and land without a runway or helicopter. The solicitation, tied to the 145th Airlift Wing, specifies two wing sizes (23-25 sq m for solo flight and 26-28 sq m for carrying an 80-pound rucksack), a 185cc-equivalent engine capable of climbing at 8,000-10,000 feet, a steerable reserve parachute, and an automatic water flotation device. The bid deadline was extended to July 31, 2026, with delivery planned for New London, North Carolina. The article notes that such systems have been used by U.S. Marine Corps special operators and, conversely, by Hamas in the October 2023 attack on Israel.
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