diff --git a/src/modules/fw_pos_control/FixedwingPositionControl.cpp b/src/modules/fw_pos_control/FixedwingPositionControl.cpp
index b210b01b66..4b0a391fc5 100644
--- a/src/modules/fw_pos_control/FixedwingPositionControl.cpp
+++ b/src/modules/fw_pos_control/FixedwingPositionControl.cpp
@@ -666,9 +666,23 @@ FixedwingPositionControl::set_control_mode_current(const hrt_abstime &now)
 
 	_skipping_takeoff_detection = false;
 
-	if (((_control_mode.flag_control_auto_enabled && _control_mode.flag_control_position_enabled) ||
-	     _control_mode.flag_control_offboard_enabled) && (_position_setpoint_current_valid
-			     || _pos_sp_triplet.current.type == position_setpoint_s::SETPOINT_TYPE_IDLE)) {
+	if (_control_mode.flag_control_offboard_enabled && _position_setpoint_current_valid
+	    && _control_mode.flag_control_position_enabled) {
+		if (PX4_ISFINITE(_pos_sp_triplet.current.vx) && PX4_ISFINITE(_pos_sp_triplet.current.vy)
+		    && PX4_ISFINITE(_pos_sp_triplet.current.vz)) {
+			// Offboard position with velocity setpoints
+			_control_mode_current = FW_POSCTRL_MODE_AUTO_PATH;
+			return;
+
+		} else {
+			// Offboard position setpoint only
+			_control_mode_current = FW_POSCTRL_MODE_AUTO;
+			return;
+		}
+
+	} else if ((_control_mode.flag_control_auto_enabled && _control_mode.flag_control_position_enabled)
+		   && (_position_setpoint_current_valid
+		       || _pos_sp_triplet.current.type == position_setpoint_s::SETPOINT_TYPE_IDLE)) {
 
 		// Enter this mode only if the current waypoint has valid 3D position setpoints or is of type IDLE.
 		// A setpoint of type IDLE can be published by Navigator without a valid position, and is handled here in FW_POSCTRL_MODE_AUTO.
@@ -1063,15 +1077,7 @@ FixedwingPositionControl::control_auto_position(const float control_interval, co
 	_npfg.setAirspeedNom(target_airspeed * _eas2tas);
 	_npfg.setAirspeedMax(_performance_model.getMaximumCalibratedAirspeed() * _eas2tas);
 
-	if (_control_mode.flag_control_offboard_enabled && PX4_ISFINITE(pos_sp_curr.vx) && PX4_ISFINITE(pos_sp_curr.vy)) {
-		// Navigate directly on position setpoint and path tangent
-		matrix::Vector2f velocity_2d(pos_sp_curr.vx, pos_sp_curr.vy);
-		float curvature = PX4_ISFINITE(_pos_sp_triplet.current.loiter_radius) ? 1 / _pos_sp_triplet.current.loiter_radius :
-				  0.0f;
-		navigatePathTangent(curr_pos_local, curr_wp_local, velocity_2d.normalized(), ground_speed,
-				    _wind_vel, curvature);
-
-	} else if (_position_setpoint_previous_valid && pos_sp_prev.type != position_setpoint_s::SETPOINT_TYPE_TAKEOFF) {
+	if (_position_setpoint_previous_valid && pos_sp_prev.type != position_setpoint_s::SETPOINT_TYPE_TAKEOFF) {
 		Vector2f prev_wp_local = _global_local_proj_ref.project(pos_sp_prev.lat, pos_sp_prev.lon);
 		navigateWaypoints(prev_wp_local, curr_wp_local, curr_pos_local, ground_speed, _wind_vel);
 
@@ -1326,6 +1332,58 @@ void FixedwingPositionControl::publishFigureEightStatus(const position_setpoint_
 }
 #endif // CONFIG_FIGURE_OF_EIGHT
 
+void
+FixedwingPositionControl::control_auto_path(const float control_interval, const Vector2d &curr_pos,
+		const Vector2f &ground_speed, const position_setpoint_s &pos_sp_curr)
+{
+
+	float tecs_fw_thr_min;
+	float tecs_fw_thr_max;
+
+	if (pos_sp_curr.gliding_enabled) {
+		/* enable gliding with this waypoint */
+		_tecs.set_speed_weight(2.0f);
+		tecs_fw_thr_min = 0.0;
+		tecs_fw_thr_max = 0.0;
+
+	} else {
+		tecs_fw_thr_min = _param_fw_thr_min.get();
+		tecs_fw_thr_max = _param_fw_thr_max.get();
+	}
+
+	// waypoint is a plain navigation waypoint
+	float target_airspeed = adapt_airspeed_setpoint(control_interval, pos_sp_curr.cruising_speed,
+				_performance_model.getMinimumCalibratedAirspeed(getLoadFactor()), ground_speed);
+
+	Vector2f curr_pos_local{_local_pos.x, _local_pos.y};
+	Vector2f curr_wp_local = _global_local_proj_ref.project(pos_sp_curr.lat, pos_sp_curr.lon);
+
+	_npfg.setAirspeedNom(target_airspeed * _eas2tas);
+	_npfg.setAirspeedMax(_performance_model.getMaximumCalibratedAirspeed() * _eas2tas);
+
+	// Navigate directly on position setpoint and path tangent
+	matrix::Vector2f velocity_2d(pos_sp_curr.vx, pos_sp_curr.vy);
+	const float curvature = PX4_ISFINITE(_pos_sp_triplet.current.loiter_radius) ? 1 /
+				_pos_sp_triplet.current.loiter_radius :
+				0.0f;
+	navigatePathTangent(curr_pos_local, curr_wp_local, velocity_2d.normalized(), ground_speed, _wind_vel, curvature);
+
+	_att_sp.roll_body = _npfg.getRollSetpoint();
+	target_airspeed = _npfg.getAirspeedRef() / _eas2tas;
+
+	_att_sp.yaw_body = _yaw; // yaw is not controlled, so set setpoint to current yaw
+
+	tecs_update_pitch_throttle(control_interval,
+				   pos_sp_curr.alt,
+				   target_airspeed,
+				   radians(_param_fw_p_lim_min.get()),
+				   radians(_param_fw_p_lim_max.get()),
+				   tecs_fw_thr_min,
+				   tecs_fw_thr_max,
+				   _param_sinkrate_target.get(),
+				   _param_climbrate_target.get());
+}
+
 void
 FixedwingPositionControl::control_auto_takeoff(const hrt_abstime &now, const float control_interval,
 		const Vector2d &global_position, const Vector2f &ground_speed, const position_setpoint_s &pos_sp_curr)
@@ -2391,6 +2449,11 @@ FixedwingPositionControl::Run()
 				break;
 			}
 
+		case FW_POSCTRL_MODE_AUTO_PATH: {
+				control_auto_path(control_interval, curr_pos, ground_speed, _pos_sp_triplet.current);
+				break;
+			}
+
 		case FW_POSCTRL_MODE_AUTO_TAKEOFF: {
 				control_auto_takeoff(_local_pos.timestamp, control_interval, curr_pos, ground_speed, _pos_sp_triplet.current);
 				break;
diff --git a/src/modules/fw_pos_control/FixedwingPositionControl.hpp b/src/modules/fw_pos_control/FixedwingPositionControl.hpp
index 16c857e35b..9f672ef2ee 100644
--- a/src/modules/fw_pos_control/FixedwingPositionControl.hpp
+++ b/src/modules/fw_pos_control/FixedwingPositionControl.hpp
@@ -240,6 +240,7 @@ private:
 		FW_POSCTRL_MODE_AUTO_TAKEOFF,
 		FW_POSCTRL_MODE_AUTO_LANDING_STRAIGHT,
 		FW_POSCTRL_MODE_AUTO_LANDING_CIRCULAR,
+		FW_POSCTRL_MODE_AUTO_PATH,
 		FW_POSCTRL_MODE_MANUAL_POSITION,
 		FW_POSCTRL_MODE_MANUAL_ALTITUDE,
 		FW_POSCTRL_MODE_OTHER
@@ -600,6 +601,18 @@ private:
 				 const position_setpoint_s &pos_sp_prev, const position_setpoint_s &pos_sp_curr, const position_setpoint_s &pos_sp_next);
 
 
+	/**
+	 * @brief Vehicle control for following a path.
+	 *
+	 * @param control_interval Time since last position control call [s]
+	 * @param curr_pos Current 2D local position vector of vehicle [m]
+	 * @param ground_speed Local 2D ground speed of vehicle [m/s]
+	 * @param pos_sp_prev previous position setpoint
+	 * @param pos_sp_curr current position setpoint
+	 */
+	void control_auto_path(const float control_interval, const Vector2d &curr_pos, const Vector2f &ground_speed,
+			       const position_setpoint_s &pos_sp_curr);
+
 	/**
 	 * @brief Controls a desired airspeed, bearing, and height rate.
 	 *