Skyways Lands $37M USAF Contract to Scale Autonomous Cargo Drones

AFWERX funding propels mass production of long-range, heavy-lift uncrewed aircraft

Skyways to Transition from Prototype to Full Production

Skyways, an Austin-based manufacturer of long-range autonomous cargo drones, has secured a $37 million contract from the U.S. Air Force’s innovation unit, AFWERX. The funding will help Skyways move its V3 cargo drone from prototype to full-rate production.

The Skyways AFWERX Contract will allow the company to complete its production design, enhance its autonomous flight systems, and prepare to scale manufacturing. The company aims to deploy thousands of V3 aircraft for both military and commercial missions.

“Skyways is landing contracts well above its weight class and that’s no accident,” said Charles Acknin, Co-Founder and CEO of Skyways. “Our approach is different from most companies as we self-fund building and flying full-scale aircraft early during development so prospective customers can see real capability, not a slide deck. We’ve figured out a way to do it rapidly and at low cost. This approach is what helped secure this USAF contract and now best positions us to scale production.”

A Scalable Solution for Global Logistics

Skyways is developing a new class of cargo aircraft that are uncrewed, cost-efficient, and optimized for mass production. These aircraft are designed to support logistics operations in places where conventional aviation is too expensive, dangerous, or impractical.

Skyways’ vision is bold: to build the world’s largest fleet of autonomous logistics aircraft over the next five years. The company’s aircraft are already in use. The Skyways V2 drone, which is flying missions today, carries up to 30 lbs of cargo with a maximum range of 500 miles.

The V3, Skyways’ next-generation platform, builds on that success. It uses the same autonomy software but with improved capabilities. It can carry 100 lbs, fly more than 1,000 miles, and stay airborne for over 20 hours. Both aircraft feature a double-hybrid design that allows vertical takeoff and efficient forward flight using both electric and fuel-based energy.

Skyways AFWERX Contract: A Boost for National Defense and Industry

The U.S. Air Force, through AFWERX and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), is investing in Skyways as part of a broader effort to bring innovative aerospace solutions into defense operations. This award marks a step toward designating Skyways’ aircraft as a Program of Record for unmanned aerial logistics.

AFWERX, the Air Force’s innovation arm, supports technology transition and defense readiness. Since 2019, it has awarded over 10,000 contracts to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base.

The views expressed in this announcement are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Air Force, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.

About Skyways
Skyways designs and manufactures uncrewed aircraft for long-range cargo missions. Its platforms are already operational and serving military and commercial clients. Skyways’ aircraft are built for scale, with future applications including passenger transport. Learn more at skyways.com.

About AFWERX and AFRL
AFWERX is a directorate of the Air Force Research Laboratory and helps small businesses bring cutting-edge technology into defense use. AFRL is the Department of the Air Force’s main research body, with more than 12,500 personnel and projects around the world. Visit afwerx.com and afresearchlab.com for more information.

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