UAV recovery operating environments
Recovery systems are developed around the platform’s real operating environment. Where a standard system is not suitable, APCO can develop a custom solution.
- 01
UAV recovery in rough terrain
For UAVs and payloads landing on rocky, forested, sloped or uneven terrain, the recovery system must manage more than vertical descent speed.
- 02
Water landing and amphibious recovery
When it is unclear where the platform will come down, it has to be ready for both: landing on land and on water.
- 03
Underwater recovery in high-density fluids
Parachutes, drogues and flexible drag devices can also operate in fluids other than air — where the surrounding medium creates greater resistance.
- 04
Chemically resistant UAV recovery systems
A recovery system may remain exposed to fuel vapours, oils, hydraulic fluids and maintenance chemicals long before it ever deploys.
- 05
Nomex and fire resistant fabrics
For platforms exposed to flame, hot gases, engine exhaust, pyrotechnics or radiant heat, the entire recovery system is engineered thermally.
Source: apcodefense.com (APCO Aviation), as of 25 September 2026.
Asked in technical terms.
Which operating environments are the systems designed for?
Rough terrain, water and amphibious recovery, high-density fluids, chemically saturated air, and fire and heat. Each environment places specific demands on fabric, seams and hardware. Material selection takes account of the conditions to which the system will be exposed during service.