The Czech aircraft company opens ground testing on Technology Demonstrator 2.0 in Prague and targets flight testing in 2027 and commercial deliveries between 2027 and 2029.
Prague-based Zuri unveiled its Zuri uncrewed cargo VTOL, a hybrid-electric tiltrotor for civil and defense operators, on August 27, 2026. The aircraft carries more than 100 kilograms (220 pounds) over 679 kilometers (422 miles) by design. Range drops to 569 kilometers (354 miles) with a full 30-minute reserve. It cruises at 220 kilometers per hour (137 mph) and lands on a pad, deck or open ground. Useful load is 165 kilograms (364 pounds) of payload plus fuel.
Zuri targets offshore, disaster relief and defense logistics missions. A 200-kilometer (124-mile) North Sea leg out and back typically requires a helicopter or supply vessel. Zuri’s aircraft flies the round trip, refuels and returns before the vessel arrives. A 380-kilometer (236-mile) Baltic base resupply takes a road convoy most of a day. The aircraft covers the same route in a morning.
Zuri cargo VTOL architecture
Zuri has flown more than 15 aircraft since 2018 and held full-scale hover in 2021. Technology Demonstrator 2.0 (TD 2.0) integrates the full production architecture into a single full-scale airframe. TD 2.0 is now in systems integration and ground test in Prague. Flight testing starts in early 2027. Zuri has retired six of the program’s eight graded risks.
Cargo rides in a sealed bay in the airframe. A swappable underbelly pod carries sensors, a communications relay or additional cargo. Distributed propulsion and redundant fly-by-wire keep the aircraft controllable after a rotor loss. The battery carries the landing if the generator fails. The powertrain delivers about 1,500 watt-hours per kilogram at the system level, versus 230 to 280 Wh/kg for the best aviation batteries.
“We spent nine years and fifteen aircraft teaching ourselves what this architecture can do,” said Michal Illich, founder and CEO of Zuri. “The uncrewed cargo VTOL is the first one we are building for someone else to fly. This round funds the demonstrator and its full flight test campaign.”
Series A tranche and EASA path
The €6 million (about $6.5 million) Series A first tranche includes €1.1 million (about $1.2 million) from existing investors. Zuri has raised €7.6 million (about $8.2 million) since 2018. Comparable Western programs have spent €300 million (about $325 million) or more. Commercial deliveries follow with later tranches between 2027 and 2029.
Approval runs through the EASA Specific category under SORA per-operation risk assessments. Design, build and flight test happen in-house on an ITAR-free European supply base. More information is available at Zuri.
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