Autonomous Cargo Aircraft Prototype Flies In Under Two Months
Los Angeles-based aerospace startup Aviern has built and flown an autonomous cargo aircraft prototype in under two months. The unmanned fixed-wing aircraft successfully demonstrated its ability to take off, follow a flight route, and land without pilot intervention.
Co-founders Kush Agarwal and Arvin Singh established the company to target regional freight deliveries and military resupply missions. The long-term goal of the startup is transporting 453.6 kg of cargo over a 1,609 km range for less than USD 1,000 per flight.
Aviern designed its aircraft without cockpits, passenger seats, or onboard crew systems to increase freight space and reduce operating costs. The startup developed the airframe, autopilot, perception system, and ground-control software entirely in-house.
Proprietary autonomy software known as AviernOS has accumulated more than 241.4 km of autonomous flight. The company aims to connect America's roughly 5,000 public-use airports, of which only about 520 are certified for airline service.
Proposed models like the A600 are designed to carry 272.2 kg over 965.6 km with a maximum takeoff weight of 598.7 kg. Planned operations utilise short or unprepared runways with automotive or aviation gasoline at a projected operating cost of approximately USD 100 per hour.
Commercial deployment depends on regulatory approvals, with the company designing its systems around the Federal Aviation Administration's proposed Part 108 framework. Aviern plans to demonstrate fully autonomous flight using a retrofitted small aeroplane by the first quarter of 2027.
The startup aims to build and fly a purpose-designed cargo aircraft by the first quarter of 2028 ahead of commercial operations. Future visions also extend to airports where loading, departures, landings, and turnaround operations require minimal human involvement.
Aviern built and flew an autonomous cargo aircraft prototype in under two months.
The startup aims to transport 453.6 kg of cargo over 1,609 km for less than USD 1,000 per flight.
The proposed A600 aircraft targets a maximum takeoff weight of 598.7 kg and operations from short runways.
Commercial rollout remains dependent on regulatory frameworks and planned flight demonstrations through 2028.
Source: interestingengineering
