Kawasaki Motors is collaborating with Dronamics, a Bulgarian UAV design and operations company, to develop and integrate aero piston engines into civilian cargo drones.
At the heart of the new partnership is the Black Swan, Dronamics’ flagship long-range drone, which Kawasaki aims to power with its renewed aviation propulsion technology. The joint effort spans the full lifecycle of engine integration, from laboratory R&D through flight testing and validation. Kawasaki sees the partnership as a step in its reenergized focus on fixed-wing aviation propulsion systems.
The Black Swan, already capable of carrying up to 350 kg (772 lb) over 1,350 nautical miles (2,500 km), is designed to compete on payload, range, speed, and cost-efficiency against conventional air freight and other cargo transport modes. Dronamics claims that the Black Swan is up to 80% faster, 50% cheaper, and emits up to 60% less carbon than alternative transport systems. In addition to commercial cargo operations, the collaboration has implications for disaster relief, emergency resupply, firefighting, and other civil protection missions. Dronamics is Europe’s first licensed cargo drone airline and the first to be recognized by IATA and ICAO.
Kawasaki’s involvement in the program also paves the way for a version of the Black Swan to be built in Japan to serve both domestic and regional needs. The manufacturer’s roots in the motorcycle industry are well known, but the company notes that its aviation heritage and engine-development capability form the technical foundation for this venture. Timeframes for deployment, certification, and regulatory acceptance remain to be detailed.
