Dronamics

Dronamics is a UK and Bulgaria-based manufacturer of cargo drones for middle-mile deliveries. In 2018, the company introduced its cargo drone model, “Black Swan,” which can transport roughly 770 lbs at a distance of just over 1,550 miles but needs a runaway of 0.25 miles for takeoff and landing. The company targets same-day shipping services for e-commerce, pharmaceutical, and time-critical products over long distances. It also obtained the “Light UAS Operator Certificate” (LUC) from the civil aviation authorities in Malta in May 2022, which allows the company to self-authorize beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) in any country in the EU; and obtained IATA and ICAO designator codes in July 2023, which grants its drones recognition equivalent to traditional international airlines.

The company looked to operate its Global Network Development Center (GNDC) in Malta, introduce droneports across Europe, and eventually expand globally. The company planned to commence commercial operations starting in Greece in early 2024. 

Key customers and partnerships

The company joined a consortium led by AGS Airports—the owner of Aberdeen, Glasgow, and Southampton airports—in January 2021, to build a medical drone delivery network in Scotland. Dronamics also partnered with the German international logistics services provider Hellmann Worldwide Logistics (June 2021), and DHL (July 2021), for cross-border middle-mile delivery of time-critical cargo across Europe in 2022. It also partnered with Emirates Post Group (EPG) to explore the use of cargo drones in the UAE (October 2023), Hellenic Post to offer drone-based postal delivery services in Greece (November 2023), Qatar Airways Cargo for regional middle-mile deliveries (November 2023), and Aramex for middle-mile deliveries globally (November 2023).

The company also has drone manufacturing partnerships with Quickstep Holdings (July 2022), Cotesa (September 2022), and the Strategic Development Fund (SDF) (November 2023). It also has a partnership with aviation tech developer Cranfield Aerospace Solutions (CAeS) to develop hydrogen fuel cell-based drones (November 2022; extended in October 2023).

Funding and financials

In March 2024, Dronamics received a EUR 10 million (USD 10.9 million) equity investment from the European Innovation Council (EIC), to set up commercial operations. Previously, in December 2023, Dronamics received a grant from Malta Enterprise, the economic development agency of Malta, to develop Dronamic’s GNDC, with planned entry into service in 2024.