How lightweight is the UAV parachute and what payload does it carry?

The complete parachute system weighs less than 800 grams. It is designed for UAVs carrying payloads of up to 75 kg and engineered to achieve a sink rate below 4 m/s, even at maximum payload capacity. A cross-slider system reduces opening shock.

What materials are used to achieve such low weight?

APCO uses a proprietary high-tenacity nylon 6-6 fabric weighing only 20 g/m², combined with reinforcement techniques to provide strength with low packed volume. The canopy is a 35 m² cruciform/rectangular parachute with a drag coefficient above 2.5, ensuring a safe and stable descent profile.

How does the parachute reduce opening shock?

A cross-slider deployment system is used to reduce opening shock, resulting in measured opening loads of 2–3.5 g at 30 m/s, well within safe operational limits. The parachute is integrated into a fielded UAV platform and has recorded thousands of successful deployments with zero failures.

Project · UAV parachute

Super light drone parachute

A UAV parachute under 800 g for payloads up to 75 kg with a sink rate below 4 m/s – combat proven with thousands of successful deployments and zero failures.

Fixed-wing UAV suspended below an open dark parachute against a blue sky

The challenge

Designing a UAV parachute system with an ultra-lightweight profile while maintaining safe descent characteristics posed a unique engineering challenge. The requirement was clear:

Fabric, reinforcements and deployment were designed for these loads.

Total parachute weight under 800 g
Payload capacity up to 75 kg
Sink rate below 4 m/s

Ultra-lightweight materials

APCO employed a proprietary high-tenacity nylon 6-6 fabric weighing only 20 g/m². Combined with reinforcement techniques, this material enabled weight reduction without compromising durability.

Advanced design and construction

The final configuration resulted in a 35 m² cruciform/rectangular parachute with a drag coefficient above 2.5. This design is intended to provide stable descent even at maximum payload capacity. A cross-slider system reduces opening shock.

A person holding the lines of a large dark grey recovery canopy as it fills with wind on a lawn, standing taller than the person beside it

Deployment innovation

To ensure reliability, APCO developed a cross-slider system that reduces opening shock. Flight tests confirmed 2–3.5 g opening loads at 30 m/s, well within acceptable safety margins.

Fixed-wing UAV on a single line running out of frame above, the inflated airbag beneath it, against a blue sky

Custom deployment bag and tooling

A custom-made deployment bag was engineered together with specifically designed tooling to aid in the packing sequence. This makes repacking faster, more consistent and more reliable for the end user.

Hands stowing suspension lines in loops on a packing fixture with rods

Flying-wing UAV in flight with the recovery parachute being extracted on its bridle behind it

Results

Under 800 g canopy weight for payloads up to 75 kg at a sink rate below 4 m/s.
Combat proven: integrated into a fielded UAV platform with thousands of successful deployments and zero failures.

Testing and validation

Extensive testing confirmed the parachute’s reliability under demanding operational conditions.

Test data of the super light UAV parachute
Parameter	Value
Opening speed	30 m/s
Payload weight	75 kg
Opening shock	2–3.5 g
Deployment record	Thousands of flawless uses on combat-proven UAVs

Source: apcodefense.com (APCO Aviation), as of 25 September 2026.