1,300-mile range: US firm builds autonomous cargo drone that can fly without runway

Skyways has unveiled Skyreach, an autonomous cargo aircraft that the US startup says can fly more than 1,300 miles and stay airborne for more than 18 hours with a full fuel load.

The company has begun building the aircraft in Austin, Texas, and plans to start flying for defense and commercial customers in December 2026. Skyreach combines electric vertical takeoff and landing with fuel-powered cruise.

The firm designed it to carry supplies to locations where runways and specialized ground crews are unavailable, including ships and remote sites. Its modular bay can also carry sensors and communications equipment.

Electric takeoff and fuel-powered cruise

The hybrid propulsion system uses batteries for vertical takeoff and landing and replenishes them during cruise. That allows the aircraft to prepare for another flight without ground charging or battery swaps. Skyreach can run on JP-5 and Jet A-1, two aviation fuels.

Skyways said the aircraft is designed to operate in winds of up to 40 knots and temperatures ranging from −5°F to 120°F. The company puts its cost at roughly one-tenth that of a helicopter and intends to use it for frequent flights with minimal ground infrastructure.

The company designed Skyreach for rapid turnaround between missions, aiming the fly around the clock. It sees that operating model as a step toward automating ground operations as its fleet grows.

ONE PLATFORM. INFINITE MISSIONS.

Meet Skyreach.

Built from our operational experience that spans 3,600+ flights, 90,000+ km flown, 8 years of military operations with current operations on three continents— Skyreach is built by the mission.

Deliver Anywhere. Deliver Far.… pic.twitter.com/3vx4naGNpQ

— Skyways (@skyways) November 9, 2026

A cargo bay built for autonomous deliveries

The aircraft has a seven-cubic-foot bay that can accommodate temperature-controlled shipments as well as equipment for sensing, surveillance, and communications. Fuel and payload share a 100-pound capacity, so the weight available for cargo depends on how much fuel the aircraft carries.

Crews load the bay from above, and cargo can be released from below for an autonomous airdrop or lowered on a tether.

The onboard system handles navigation, mission execution, and emergency maneuvers. Skyways’ SkyNav Mission Control software lets operators supervise several aircraft at once.

“Defense customers have heard plenty of promises about long-range autonomy,” said Jake Jacobson, a former deputy commander of U.S. Pacific Air Forces and a senior defense adviser at Skyways.

“Skyreach comes with eight years of Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force missions behind it. It gives a commander an aircraft to put to work now, with no runway, no aircrew, and no waiting in line for joint airlift,” he added.

Air Force award backs production

Skyreach is the production aircraft behind a previously announced $37 million U.S. Air Force award through the AFWERX STRATFI program. The award is intended to help Skyways reach full-rate production.

Since receiving it, the company has finalized the aircraft’s design, advanced flight qualification testing, and started production in Austin.

Skyways originally developed Skyreach as V3 Block 2, drawing on thousands of autonomous missions and eight years of operating experience with its earlier V2 aircraft. The company is aiming to field a network serving both military and commercial customers.

“Our ambition is to deploy a network of over 1,000 autonomous aircraft for defense and commercial customers within five years, unlocking a new era of aviation and possibilities that were never before practical,” said Charles Acknin, co-founder and CEO of Skyways.