Cargo drones are 60% more efficient

American startup Natilus unveiled the N3.8T unmanned aerial vehicle concept for higher transport efficiency and more environmental friendliness.

Design of Natilus's N3.8T transport aircraft.

The first prototype will have a range of 1,667km and a maximum take-off weight of 8,618kg, of which the payload capacity is up to 3,855kg. Natilus recently completed a second wind tunnel test of its turboprop design and aims to make its first deliveries in 2025.

With a mixed fuselage design, similar to NASA's "green plane" X-48 model, the N3.8T is capable of transporting 60% more cargo volume than traditional aircraft of the same weight. , thereby cutting transportation costs as well as carbon dioxide emissions by about 50%.

"Reducing air freight costs by up to 50% will promote cross-border e-commerce and facilitate the development of low-infrastructure regions," emphasized Aleksey Matyushev, CEO of Natilus. .

Natilus's unmanned transporter will start with small orders before larger models are developed with higher payload capacity and longer range. The company plans to launch a large cargo plane with a range of up to 8,220 km.

Natilus has signed an agreement with drone network operator Volatus Aerospace to produce the first N3.8T.