Airbus, KLM and others to introduce unmanned drone aircraft

Airbus Defence and Space, KLM, Twente University in Enschede, Netherlands, and Dutch aerospace company Fokker are to propose a project involving an unmanned cargo aircraft to the European Union. The EU’s Horizon 2020 research development programme introduces an environmentally friendly airliner. The Platform Unmanned Cargo Aircraft (PUCA) group is involved in preparations of a proposal that will use a Delft University of Technology postgraduate research project.

The on-going research has concluded that a small unmanned aircraft with a long range has the potential to provide the most efficient approach. The chosen drone would be of service to communities that need international freight services but are not located near a hub.

Dr Hans Heerkens from Twente University, has said: “The minimum [cargo capacity] we are looking at is about three to five tonnes and the maximum is about 20 tonnes, between a Cessna Caravan and a Lockheed Hercules.”