Skyways, an Austin-based company specializing in long-range autonomous cargo drones, has been awarded a $37 million contract by AFWERX, the U.S. Air Force’s innovation unit. This funding will accelerate the transition of Skyways’ V3 cargo drone from prototype to full-rate production.
The contract enables Skyways to finalize the production design, enhance its autonomous flight technology, and prepare for large-scale manufacturing. The company plans to deploy thousands of V3 drones for both military and commercial logistics missions.
“Skyways is landing contracts well above its weight class, and that’s no accident,” said Charles Acknin, Skyways’ Co-Founder and CEO. “Unlike most companies, we self-fund the development and early full-scale flight tests, allowing customers to see real capabilities instead of just presentations. This approach helped us secure the USAF contract and positions us to scale rapidly and cost-effectively.”
Revolutionizing Global Logistics with Scalable Autonomous Drones
Skyways is creating a new generation of uncrewed cargo aircraft designed to be cost-effective and mass-produced. These drones target logistics operations in environments where traditional aviation is too costly, risky, or impractical.
The company envisions building the world’s largest fleet of autonomous logistics aircraft within five years. Its current Skyways V2 drone carries up to 30 pounds of cargo over 500 miles and is already operational.
Building on this, the V3 drone retains the same autonomy software but boasts enhanced performance — carrying up to 100 pounds, flying beyond 1,000 miles, and sustaining flight for over 20 hours. Both models utilize a double-hybrid propulsion system enabling vertical takeoff and efficient forward flight using electric and fuel power.
Supporting National Defense and Aerospace Innovation
This investment by the U.S. Air Force, through AFWERX and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), is part of a broader initiative to integrate innovative aerospace technologies into defense operations. The contract moves Skyways closer to having its aircraft designated as an official Program of Record for unmanned aerial logistics.
Since 2019, AFWERX has awarded over 10,000 contracts aimed at strengthening the U.S. defense industrial base by fostering new technologies.
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