North Carolina Air National Guard to buy motorized paragliders for silent infiltration missions

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North Carolina Air National Guard Seeks Stealthy Powered Paragliders for Covert Infiltration

The North Carolina Air National Guard is seeking to acquire backpack-mounted powered paragliding flight systems, a capability that allows individual service members to fly into contested areas with minimal detection. The solicitation, issued under number W50S87-26-Q-5004, was published this month by the North Carolina National Guard’s procurement office.

The original bid deadline of July 24, 2026, has been extended to July 31, 2026, to allow the government to add specifications for a parachute component that was omitted from the initial paperwork. Delivery is planned for New London, North Carolina, pending the availability of government funding.

A Quiet Tool for Modern Battlefields

The equipment, often referred to as a paramotor or powered paraglider (PPG), consists of a small engine and propeller strapped to a pilot’s back. The pilot launches by running a few steps under an inflated fabric wing, climbing into the sky without the need for a runway, helicopter, or parachute drop aircraft.

Powered paragliders have become a serious military asset due to their low observability. They generate minimal radar and heat signatures and produce engine noise comparable to a lawn mower, making them ideal for slipping into contested territory undetected.

• Military precedent: U.S. Marine Corps special operators publicly demonstrated paragliding infiltration capabilities in 2024 during a showcase in Tampa, Florida, as part of a scenario involving hunting down enemy drones.
• Dual-use technology: The same low observability was exploited by Hamas militants during their October 2023 attack on southern Israel, a stark demonstration that has accelerated Western military interest in fielding the capability.

Detailed Specifications and Equipment Requirements

The solicitation reads like a wish list built by an experienced operator, with specific requirements for wings, engines, and safety gear.

Paraglider Wings

Each system must include two distinct wings:

• Smaller wing: Sized between 23 and 25 square meters (248–269 sq ft), designed for solo flight without heavy gear.
• Larger wing: Sized between 26 and 28 square meters (280–301 sq ft), certified to safely lift a pilot carrying a minimum 80-pound (36-kilogram) rucksack. This distinction is critical, as a wing sized for a light pilot can become dangerously unstable under a full combat load.

Visual and Camouflage Requirements

All visible components—including the canopy, harness, and motor frame—must be in muted tactical colors such as gray, olive drab, or coyote brown. Large commercial logos are prohibited. The reserve parachute is exempt from this requirement, as it remains packed away unless an emergency occurs.

Engine and Performance

• Power: Equivalent to at least a 185cc engine.
• Altitude capability: Must maintain safe climb rates between 8,000 and 10,000 feet (2,438–3,048 meters), a significant engineering challenge due to thinner air at higher altitudes.
• Controls: Integrated engine shutoff, right-hand throttle, and a propeller sized around 140 centimeters (55 inches).

Harness and Safety

• Harness: Adjustable, sized at minimum Large, with integrated spine protection (similar to an airbag system) for hard landings.
• Fuel tank: Extended range to support cross-country flights of 30 to 100 miles (48–161 kilometers).
• Reserve parachute: Steerable, rated for a combined weight of at least 170 kilograms (375 pounds) for tandem or heavy payload situations.
• Water safety: An automatic water flotation device that deploys upon contact with open water, hinting at potential maritime interdiction or over-water infiltration scenarios.

Training Requirements

Training constitutes a substantial portion of the requirement. The solicitation calls for comprehensive instruction to ensure operators can safely and effectively deploy the systems in mission environments.