Aerospace startup Pyka has introduced a new long-range, heavy-lift unmanned aerial system (UAS) called DropShip, signaling the company’s official entry into the defense sector. The platform leverages Pyka’s established autonomous flight technology—originally developed for its Pelican 2 electric crop protection aircraft—to support a wide range of military missions. The first flight of DropShip is expected to take place in early 2026.
The DropShip is engineered for precision airdrop missions in remote or contested areas, capable of delivering supplies with remarkable accuracy—within 150 feet (46 meters) of the target zone. It boasts a ferry range exceeding 3,500 miles (5,633 kilometers) and a payload capacity of up to 550 pounds (249 kilograms), positioning it as one of the most capable electric-powered heavy-lift drones in its class.
Designed with operational flexibility in mind, DropShip features a reconfigurable mission system that can accommodate ISR (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) payloads, communications suites, and mothership functionality to launch or recover smaller unmanned vehicles. It can also function as an expeditionary power supply, enabling extended mission versatility in austere environments.
For covert operations, the aircraft includes an all-electric, low-signature flight mode offering up to 45 minutes of near-silent operation. These capabilities are supported by an open-architecture secondary mission computer, which allows for quick plug-and-play integration of emerging technologies. The unveiling of DropShip underscores Pyka’s transition from commercial and agricultural aviation toward dual-use and military-grade autonomous systems, expanding its role within the defense aerospace market.
