British soldiers could soon be equipped with powered paragliders, enabling them to fly up to 200 miles behind enemy lines. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is investing £6m in the system, with trials anticipated to start "in the coming months".
The backpack-sized gliders, manufactured by Blakcro in Wiltshire, are designed for Royal Marine and Parachute Regiment troops to enter hostile areas covertly during the night without needing to drop from aircraft. The manufacturer states the machines can be assembled in eight minutes and launched on foot.
Defence Minister Luke Pollard said the government is building a "more resilient, homegrown defence supply chain and ensuring our armed forces receive the pioneering equipment that can give them the edge on the battlefield". The paragliders can carry body armour, night vision equipment, and weapon mounts, and are reportedly more difficult to detect by radar or sound than traditional aircraft.