diff --git a/libraries/AP_Scripting/generator/description/bindings.desc b/libraries/AP_Scripting/generator/description/bindings.desc
index f269643e1d5..1b2f7e0c4ec 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_Scripting/generator/description/bindings.desc
+++ b/libraries/AP_Scripting/generator/description/bindings.desc
@@ -549,6 +549,7 @@ ap_object SocketAPM method is_connected boolean
 ap_object SocketAPM method pollout boolean uint32_t'skip_check
 ap_object SocketAPM method pollin boolean uint32_t'skip_check
 ap_object SocketAPM method reuseaddress boolean
+ap_object SocketAPM manual sendfile SocketAPM_sendfile 1
 ap_object SocketAPM manual close SocketAPM_close 0
 ap_object SocketAPM manual recv SocketAPM_recv 1
 ap_object SocketAPM manual accept SocketAPM_accept 1
diff --git a/libraries/AP_Scripting/lua_bindings.cpp b/libraries/AP_Scripting/lua_bindings.cpp
index ac7b4b83349..8264233e137 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_Scripting/lua_bindings.cpp
+++ b/libraries/AP_Scripting/lua_bindings.cpp
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 #if AP_NETWORKING_ENABLED
 #include <AP_HAL/utility/Socket.h>
 #endif
+#include "lua/src/lauxlib.h"
 
 extern const AP_HAL::HAL& hal;
 
@@ -836,6 +837,42 @@ int SocketAPM_close(lua_State *L) {
     return 0;
 }
 
+/*
+  socket sendfile, for offloading file send to AP_Networking
+ */
+int SocketAPM_sendfile(lua_State *L) {
+    binding_argcheck(L, 2);
+
+    SocketAPM *ud = *check_SocketAPM(L, 1);
+
+    auto *scripting = AP::scripting();
+
+    if (scripting->num_net_sockets == 0) {
+        return luaL_argerror(L, 1, "socket close error");
+    }
+
+    auto *p = (luaL_Stream *)luaL_checkudata(L, 2, LUA_FILEHANDLE);
+    int fd = p->f->fd;
+    bool ret = false;
+
+    // find the socket
+    for (uint8_t i=0; i<SCRIPTING_MAX_NUM_NET_SOCKET; i++) {
+        if (scripting->_net_sockets[i] == ud) {
+            ret = AP::network().sendfile(ud, fd);
+            if (ret) {
+                // remove from scripting, leave socket and fd open
+                p->f->fd = -1;
+                scripting->_net_sockets[i] = nullptr;
+                scripting->num_net_sockets--;
+            }
+            break;
+        }
+    }
+
+    lua_pushboolean(L, ret);
+    return 1;
+}
+
 /*
   receive from a socket to a lua string
  */
diff --git a/libraries/AP_Scripting/lua_bindings.h b/libraries/AP_Scripting/lua_bindings.h
index 41adfd85965..3c5d9528c8d 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_Scripting/lua_bindings.h
+++ b/libraries/AP_Scripting/lua_bindings.h
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ int lua_get_SocketAPM(lua_State *L);
 int SocketAPM_recv(lua_State *L);
 int SocketAPM_accept(lua_State *L);
 int SocketAPM_close(lua_State *L);
+int SocketAPM_sendfile(lua_State *L);
 int lua_mavlink_init(lua_State *L);
 int lua_mavlink_receive_chan(lua_State *L);
 int lua_mavlink_register_rx_msgid(lua_State *L);