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Thursday, 16 November 2023
Read full issueAVIATION
SDF + Dronamics to produce Black Swan drones: The UAE’s Strategic Development Fund (SDF) has inked a terms sheet with Bulgarian drone company Dronamics to form a joint venture to manufacture the Black Swan cargo drones by 2025, according to a press release. The JV will set up the company’s first serial production plant for the Dronamics Black Swan airplane, and is set to primarily serve the mid-mile delivery segment, according to the statement.
The details: The facility will be set up in the UAE, and will have the capacity to produce some 300 Black Swan drones a year, co-founder and CEO of Dronamics Svilen Rangelov said.
About the drones: The drones can transport up to 350 kgs for 1.6k miles, and the company claims it is 80% faster, 50% cheaper and emits lower emissions than alternative modes of transport.
Background: SDF has been an investor in Dronamics since late 2022, when it contributed to its USD 40 mn series A funding round. The companies also inked an MoU last month during the AVI Cluster launch event at Masdar City.
Dronamics also signed a letter of intent (LOI) with Aramex to provide it with its drones for same-day middle-mile and long-range deliveries, according to a separate statement. The companies hope to pilot the drone flights in 2024, starting with the UAE, before they look into expanding their partnership to markets like South Africa and Australia, Aramex Global Innovation Director Angad Singh said.
IN OTHER AVIATION NEWS-
Flydubai has inked an agreement with Mohammed bin Rashid Aerospace Hub(MBRAH) to build a purpose-built USD 190 mn MRO facility in Dubai South, according to a press release. The company will kick off construction of the new hangar and workshop next year, with plans to complete it by 2026, according to the statement.
What they said: “When it is up and running in 2026, the MRO facility on Dubai South will bring us significant reductions in operational costs,” COO Mick Hills said. “Having our own in-country MRO facility will ensure a quicker turnaround of our fleet maintenance while adhering to the highest quality standards. This increased level of control will result in reduced downtime as maintenance tasks can be efficiently planned and executed, minimizing any disruption to our flight schedules in the future and enhancing overall operational reliability.”
ICYMI-Emirates also announced plans to build a new USD 950 mn MRO engineering facility in Dubai earlier this week at the Dubai Airshow.