AUTONOMOUS cargo drone developer natilus announced advanced purchase commitments of more than US$6 billion for the delivery of more than 440 aircraft in pre-orders, reports London's Air Cargo News.
Orders are from companies including Volatus Aerospace, Astral Aviation, Aurora, Dymond and Flexport. Earlier this month, Flexport completed a $900 million investment round and has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) for two 100T Natilus aircraft, with an option for a third.
California-based Natilus, which said it is producing the world's first purposefully designed and manufactured autonomous aircraft for airfreight transport, aims for its aircraft range to increase cargo volume by 60 per cent, while cutting costs by 60 per cent and lowering carbon emissions by half.
The family of cargo aircraft includes a 3.8 tonne payload short-haul feeder UAV; 60 tonne payload medium/long range UAV; 100 tonne payload long-range UAV; and a 130-tonne payload long-range UAV.
Natilus chief executive Aleksey Matyushev said: 'Today, there are only two ways to move cargo internationally: by air and by sea. The difference between the cost and time of these two modes of transportation is dramatic. Sea freight is currently thirteen times less expensive than air freight; but fifty times slower in delivery.
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Orders are from companies including Volatus Aerospace, Astral Aviation, Aurora, Dymond and Flexport. Earlier this month, Flexport completed a $900 million investment round and has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) for two 100T Natilus aircraft, with an option for a third.
California-based Natilus, which said it is producing the world's first purposefully designed and manufactured autonomous aircraft for airfreight transport, aims for its aircraft range to increase cargo volume by 60 per cent, while cutting costs by 60 per cent and lowering carbon emissions by half.
The family of cargo aircraft includes a 3.8 tonne payload short-haul feeder UAV; 60 tonne payload medium/long range UAV; 100 tonne payload long-range UAV; and a 130-tonne payload long-range UAV.
Natilus chief executive Aleksey Matyushev said: 'Today, there are only two ways to move cargo internationally: by air and by sea. The difference between the cost and time of these two modes of transportation is dramatic. Sea freight is currently thirteen times less expensive than air freight; but fifty times slower in delivery.
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