About · authorised representation

The manufacturer is in Israel.
Your contact is in Europe.

APCO Defense Europe is the authorised commercial agent for APCO in Europe. We do not manufacture — we place, accompany and support: from the first requirement through quotation, export and compliance questions, to delivery and lifecycle support.

Manufacturer

APCO Aviation Ltd

Israel · apcodefense.com

Development and manufacture of the systems
Qualification, testing and certificates
Holder of the approvals and the brand
Technical release of every configuration

Authorised commercial agent

APCO Defense Europe

Europe

Local contact, in your language and time zone
Requirements definition and quotation
Export, customs and compliance handling inside the EU
Delivery, training, repair and lifecycle support

Continue to the systems, to the services along the development cycle, or straight to all products, platforms and operating environments.

Why a representation

The systems come from one source. The procurement happens at your end.

A recovery system is not bought off a catalogue page. It is sized around platform, payload, deployment envelope and operating environment, and that route runs through export law, end-use control, customs and qualification evidence. That is where the European representation works: translating between your procurement and the manufacturer's engineering — technically, linguistically and in regulatory terms.

The manufacturer · since 1973

Over 50 years of innovation in lightweight flight.

The defense division, APCO Aviation Defense, was born from over five decades of aviation excellence at Apco Aviation. What began as pioneering work in lightweight flight has grown into a dedicated division serving the defense, aerospace and security sectors worldwide.

Building on its heritage in sports aviation, the division develops mission-ready textile solutions — from UAV recovery parachutes and high-speed deployment systems to ballistic airbags and custom decelerators. It is trusted by military, government and civilian organizations. The goal: reliable, compact and mission-specific solutions that protect lives, secure assets and solve real-world challenges.

Apco Aviation, founded in 1973, is one of the world's longest-standing leaders in lightweight flight. Starting with hang gliders and ultralights, its expertise quickly expanded to paragliders, paramotors and powered parachutes (PPC), shaping the evolution of modern sports aviation.

In the late 1970s, Apco Aviation introduced the Mayday parachute — the first commercially available reserve parachute for free flight. Originally a military-grade round canopy, the Mayday evolved into a full range of certified rescue parachutes in multiple sizes and configurations, trusted by tens of thousands of pilots worldwide.

For more than five decades, Apco Aviation has combined aerodynamic engineering, textile innovation and in-house manufacturing to produce record-breaking wings and life-saving parachutes. That foundation is what powers the defense division today.

Recovery and airdrop

What the manufacturer develops and builds.

Ram-air parachutes and steerable gliding canopies for controlled descent
Square or cruciform canopies for cargo and UAV recovery
Round canopies (conical/biconical) with optional apex pull-down
High-speed deployment systems with reefing or sliders to reduce opening shock
A full range of off-the-shelf emergency parachutes from 1 kg to over 1,000 kg payload capacity
Inflatable airbags for high-value UAVs, drones and loitering munitions
Ballistic parachute deployment systems for VTOL air taxis and other fast-opening or low-height parachute needs
Custom-built textile solutions for aerospace, defense and industrial needs

Full development cycle

From requirement to a tested prototype.

Testing, serial production and support after delivery are covered in detail under the services.

Three members of the engineering team discussing a small orange parachute canopy at a table, with the caption "50 Years of High-End Aerodynamics"

Defining requirements

Every project begins with a clear understanding of mission objectives. Together with the partner, payload parameters, aerodynamic targets, environmental conditions and operational constraints are identified, so the foundation of each system is aligned with performance goals, budget and timeline.

Designing the optimal solution

The engineering team combines aerodynamic modelling, structural analysis and advanced textile expertise to design the most efficient system for every mission. Drawing on decades of proven experience from projects worldwide, each parameter is evaluated — from deployment altitude and speed to payload weight and environmental conditions.

Because no two missions are the same, partners are presented with multiple solution paths, each with its own advantages and trade-offs. A ram-air canopy, for example, provides excellent steerability and glide range, while a round or cruciform parachute delivers simplicity, strength and cost-effectiveness. Likewise, inflatable airbags or ballistic deployment systems can be selected depending on whether the priority is fast reaction time, lightweight design or reusability.

This structured approach gives every partner a mission-specific, optimised solution that balances safety, reliability and efficiency.

Laser cutting head cutting fabric, with the caption "All in-house"

Creating a prototype

With in-house production and a full range of raw materials in stock, the manufacturer turns concepts into working prototypes with short turnaround times. Laser cutting, precision stitching and advanced textile assembly make it possible to build and test multiple configurations rapidly when required.

Each prototype undergoes rigorous testing and validation to compare the solution options and identify the best match for the mission. Only after this stage does serial production begin — so that every system performs reliably under real-world conditions.

What procurement asks first.

Is APCO Defense Europe the manufacturer?

No. The manufacturer is APCO Aviation Ltd, based in Israel. APCO Defense Europe is the authorised commercial agent for Europe. Development, manufacturing, qualification and the certificates sit with the manufacturer. We place the systems, run the project alongside you and support it through its service life.

Why not buy directly from the manufacturer?

Because more sits between a requirement and a delivery than an order: system sizing, export and end-use controls, customs, documentation in your own language, and support after delivery. Those steps run through the European representation — with one contact instead of a time difference.

Which markets does APCO Defense Europe cover?

Europe. The focus is the EU plus Switzerland, Norway and the rest of the EEA. For enquiries outside Europe, the manufacturer or the representation responsible for that region is the right route — we will make the introduction. Inside Europe the entire process runs through us.

Who holds the certificates and approvals?

APCO Aviation Ltd as the manufacturer. Certificates, qualification evidence and test documentation are issued and held by the manufacturer. We make them available within the project and map them to your procurement requirements. The representation issues no approvals of its own, and claiming otherwise would be wrong.

Define a project

Bring the requirement.
We take care of the route.

Start a technical conversation

The manufacturer is in Israel.Your contact is in Europe.