Hili Autonomous Cargo Aircraft - The UAE's First Hybrid Cargo Aircraft Takes Flight, Reshaping Global Logistics

The United Arab Emirates has achieved a historic milestone in aviation innovation with the successful maiden flight of Hili, the nation's first hybrid autonomous cargo aircraft designed, developed, and manufactured entirely within the UAE. Launched in November 2025 under the supervision of the UAE Ministry of Economy and General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Hili represents a breakthrough moment for Emirati aerospace engineering and positions the country at the forefront of sustainable air freight technology.​

The first crewed flight took place at LODD Autonomous's flight testing facility at Emirates Falcons Aviation in Al Ain on November 13, 2025, witnessed by His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. This achievement marks the first time any region has successfully designed and manufactured a civilian heavy-cargo aircraft capable of operating without traditional airport infrastructure.​

What Makes Hili Revolutionary

Hili is not a traditional drone or cargo plane—it's a hybrid vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft that combines the best of both worlds. Unlike conventional aircraft requiring long runways, Hili lifts off vertically like a helicopter. Once airborne, it transitions to fuel-assisted flight, achieving the efficiency and range of an airplane.​

The aircraft features a sleek, lightweight composite frame powered by a dual propulsion system that seamlessly switches between electric lift for vertical takeoff and landing, and fuel-assisted cruising for long-distance operations. This hybrid architecture delivers multiple advantages: it reduces operational costs, extends range significantly, and minimizes environmental impact compared to traditional cargo aircraft or fuel-only helicopters.​

Technical Specifications and Capabilities

Built through an intensive engineering program focused on precision and safety, Hili boasts impressive operational parameters that position it squarely in the commercial cargo logistics sector:

Payload Capacity: Up to 250 kilograms, sufficient for small packages, medical supplies, emergency relief items, and specialized cargo.​

Range: Up to 700 kilometers per flight (some sources cite 300 km conservatively), enabling regional and cross-border logistics missions without requiring refueling at intermediate hubs.​

Propulsion System: Hybrid-electric architecture combining vertical-takeoff electric lift with extended-range fuel-assisted cruising, optimizing for both short-range agility and long-distance efficiency.​

Flight Controls: Integrated AI-assisted flight management system for stability, route optimization, and autonomous or remote-piloted operation.​

Airframe: Modular architecture supporting various mission profiles and enabling rapid maintenance and configuration changes.​

The "Middle Mile" Problem That Hili Solves

Global supply chains face a persistent operational bottleneck known as the "middle mile"—the critical stage between warehouses and airports or between distribution centers and final destinations. This segment typically accounts for 50% of total logistics costs and creates significant delays, particularly in remote areas or regions with underdeveloped road infrastructure.​

Hili addresses this challenge by offering a flexible, efficient alternative. A package waiting in a warehouse in Abu Dhabi can be loaded onto Hili, flown directly to another facility in the northern emirates or across the border, and unloaded—all without requiring traditional airport infrastructure, customs clearances, or long ground transportation.​

Real-World Applications

The aircraft's capabilities make it ideal for multiple high-value use cases. In emergency response, Hili can deliver medical supplies, rescue equipment, or humanitarian aid to disaster zones inaccessible by conventional transport. In e-commerce fulfillment, it can expedite time-sensitive deliveries across the UAE and neighboring regions. For offshore operations, it can service oil platforms and remote installations. In healthcare logistics, it can transport time-critical medical specimens and pharmaceuticals between hospitals and diagnostic centers.​

Strategic Partnerships Signaling Market Confidence

The success of Hili's maiden flight immediately attracted international partnerships from leading logistics and drone services companies. On November 10, 2025, during the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Summit, LODD Autonomous signed a collaboration agreement with EMX (supported by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office) focused on integrating drone logistics into smart supply-chain operations.​

More significantly, LODD signed an operational agreement with Skyports Drone Services, which currently operates drone delivery for the UK Royal Mail, the UK National Health Service, and major energy companies including Equinor and RWE. This partnership signals that established logistics companies see Hili as a platform for expanding their international heavy-lift and long-range capabilities.​

Rashid Al Manai, CEO of LODD Autonomous, commented on these partnerships: "Designing, manufacturing, and testing Hili in Abu Dhabi demonstrates the UAE's growing ability to deliver technologies with global impact." The company's ability to execute rapid development cycles, combined with the UAE's regulatory support and innovation infrastructure, enables capabilities that traditional aerospace companies based in other regions struggle to achieve.​

Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week Context

Hili's debut coincided with Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week 2025 (November 8-15), a comprehensive showcase of the region's leadership in autonomous systems, AI, and robotics. The timing emphasized Abu Dhabi's strategic positioning as a hub for next-generation autonomous technology development.​

Beyond Hili, the week featured the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Systems Summit at Yas Marina Circuit, the Asia-Pacific Robotics Cup 2025 (RoboCup) at ADNEC, and the Abu Dhabi Autonomous and Unmanned Racing League—demonstrating that autonomous innovation extends across aviation, robotics, vehicle autonomy, and AI-powered mobility.​

Regulatory and Infrastructure Support

Hili's development and successful flight test would have been impossible without the UAE's advanced regulatory framework and infrastructure support. The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) provided regulatory oversight ensuring safety and airworthiness compliance. The Ministry of Economy offered policy support and strategic guidance.​

Equally important is the UAE's broader commitment to autonomous systems development. The Smart and Autonomous Systems Council, chaired by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, actively accelerates progress across advanced air mobility and intelligent systems. This institutional support creates the conditions under which startups like LODD Autonomous can move rapidly from concept to flight-ready aircraft.​

Global Implications

Hili positions the UAE as the first nation outside traditional aerospace powerhouses (USA, Europe, China, Japan) to successfully develop and fly a hybrid heavy-cargo VTOL aircraft. This achievement challenges conventional assumptions about aerospace innovation requiring decades of institutional experience and billion-dollar development budgets.​

For the global logistics industry, Hili demonstrates that sustainable, efficient cargo movement doesn't require reinventing aviation—it requires intelligent integration of proven technologies (electric propulsion, composite materials, AI flight control) with clear understanding of operational pain points (the middle mile) and regulatory clarity.​

What's Next for Hili

While the maiden flight marks a historic milestone, Hili's journey is just beginning. LODD Autonomous is working toward regulatory certification for commercial operations, likely within 12-18 months. The company is simultaneously exploring deployment opportunities across multiple Middle Eastern countries and is in discussions with international logistics providers for global licensing opportunities.​

For the UAE economy specifically, Hili's success positions the country as a testbed and manufacturing hub for next-generation logistics technology. This attracts capital, talent, and partnerships from global aerospace and logistics companies seeking innovation partners in sustainable air mobility.​

Hili represents more than just aircraft engineering—it embodies the UAE's strategic vision under initiatives like Abu Dhabi's D33 agenda (double the economy by 2033, nurture 30 unicorns, and establish the emirate as a global hub for digital innovation). The aircraft demonstrates that the UAE is no longer simply adopting global technologies; it's creating capabilities that didn't previously exist.​

For residents and investors in the UAE, Hili signals that the region's transformation extends beyond real estate and finance into advanced manufacturing, aerospace, and logistics technology. For the world, it demonstrates that innovation can emerge from unexpected geographies when institutional support, regulatory clarity, talent, and capital converge with clear market understanding.