Textron Aviation and Merlin have introduced the Cessna SkyCourier UX, a new cargo drone concept designed to carry up to 6,000 pounds (2,722 kilograms) of payload and accommodate up to three LD3 containers.
The aircraft combines Textron’s twin-engine turboprop Cessna SkyCourier platform with Merlin’s aircraft-agnostic autonomous flight software.
A proposed forward-loading configuration under evaluation would replace the conventional cockpit with additional cargo space and a large nose opening for direct loading.
Combined with the aircraft’s kneeling capability and integrated loading systems, the configuration is expected to improve cargo access and maximize usable space.
The drone would operate from austere runways, allowing supplies to be delivered directly to forward positions without depending on established airbase infrastructure.
Textron said the concept could provide a lower-cost way to resupply dispersed forces when conventional supply routes are constrained, vulnerable, or unavailable.
Potential missions include hub-to-spoke cargo transport, expeditionary base resupply, and the delivery of critical repair parts and medical supplies.
Built on a Certified Platform
Because the concept is based on an aircraft already certified by the Federal Aviation Administration and in production, it could draw on an established manufacturing system, global support network, and existing sustainment infrastructure.
These resources would provide a foundation for developing and evaluating autonomous and optionally piloted logistics aircraft without creating an entirely new platform and support network.
“Military planners are increasingly focused on how to sustain forces across distributed and contested operational environments,” said Bob Gibbs, vice president of defense and special mission sales at Textron Aviation.
“The Cessna SkyCourier UX concept reflects our commitment… to real-world mission challenges by leveraging real, certified products with innovative adaptation.”
The concept will be displayed at the Air, Space & Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Maryland.
