Troops in remote or front-line areas could be resupplied by a new generation of small and versatile unmanned aerial vehicles now under development by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). While the plan to use some form of aircraft with vertical takeoff and landing capabilities has been around since 2009, DARPA only recently has narrowed down the field of possible platforms to the Aerial Reconfigurable Embedded System (ARES). Once operational, ARES will be able to transport a variety of payloads. Its power and control systems will be self-contained, with tilting ducts enabling the aircraft to hover in place and land in tight spots. Once the payload-delivery mission is complete, an ARES aircraft could zip away at speeds comparable to other small aircraft. In some configurations, ARES aircraft could carry as much as 3,000 pounds of material – 40 percent of its total weight. It is in its final stage of development, with assistance from Lockheed Martin Skunk Works of Palmdale, Calif.