(NewsNation) — The U.S. Navy has announced an expanded partnership with an aerospace company based in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

PteroDynamics received a $7 million contract to develop its new drone model, the XP5. The 19-foot-wide drone is capable of carrying payloads up to 50 pounds and flying more than 400 nautical miles. 

“We’re really close. So we’re in a detailed design phase at the moment,” Tim Whitehand, head engineer with PteroDynamics, told NewsNation.

Drones make delivery missions less dangerous

PteroDynamics has been working with the U.S. Navy over the last four years, helping to transport necessary goods to aircraft carriers in the middle of the ocean with its current model, the XP4. These drones are not only cost-effective, but they also make these delivery missions less dangerous, since the drones are flown without a pilot. 

“If you can replace that with a much lower cost, fully autonomous aircraft that doesn’t require … a human in the seat, that’s a great thing,” said Matthew Graczyk, CEO of PteroDynamics.

The most unique aspect of these drones is their wings. They fold in to allow the drone the capability to fly vertically like a helicopter. Then, within 10 seconds of flight, the wings expand and allow the drone to fly like a plane. 

PteroDynamics also partnering with Air Force, other US allies

“We’re able to take off and land without a runway,” Whitehand said. “We can go and operate out of any austere location, whether it be up here in the mountains in Colorado, or on the deck of a small or a large ship, or even the deck of a small ship by the fact that we actually don’t need a runway, it can take off vertically, and the wings fold. And it’s nice and compact. We can get in and out of more places.”

PteroDynamics has announced partnerships with not only the U.S. Navy but also the Air Force and many U.S. allies. The newest XP5 models are expected to be airborne this fall.