Skyways Launches Skyreach: Begins Customer Flights with its New Long-Range, High-Payload Autonomous Cargo Platform Built to Scale
Proven with eight years of operational data from defense and commercial customers, the new platform supports cargo, sensing, and inspection missions.
AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Skyways today announced the launch of the Skyreach platform, its latest long-range autonomous Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) cargo aircraft, with flights for defense and commercial customers beginning in December 2026. With maximum fuel load, the aircraft has an operational range of over 1,300 miles and more than 18 hours of flight time. With 100 lbs of combined fuel and payload capacity, its large 7 cu. ft. payload bay can be configured for cargo (including temperature-controlled items), sensors, and other mission applications.
Skyreach is the production platform behind Skyways' previously announced $37 million AFWERX STRATFI award from the U.S. Air Force to achieve full-rate production. Since that award, Skyways has finalized the production design, advanced flight qualification testing, and started production in Austin, Texas.
"Built on Skyways' eight years of real-world operational experience with V2, Skyreach is our most capable platform yet," said Charles Acknin, Co-Founder and CEO of Skyways. "Our ambition is to deploy a network of over 1,000 autonomous aircraft for defense and commercial customers within five years, unlocking a new era of aviation and possibilities that were never before practical."
Skyways envisions a world where autonomous aircraft unlock entirely new possibilities for transportation, logistics, and aerial services, at a scale never before possible. Originally developed as V3 Block 2 and built on thousands of autonomous missions, Skyreach is engineered for high-frequency, round-the-clock operations without runways, specialized ground crews, or complex aviation infrastructure. Its autonomy and operational simplicity lay the foundation for deploying thousands of aircraft across the globe, creating an entirely new layer of aviation infrastructure.
Designed for demanding military and commercial operations, Skyreach combines long-range autonomous flight, hybrid propulsion compatible with common military aviation fuels, and a modular payload bay for cargo, sensors, and communications. At roughly one-tenth the cost of a helicopter, Skyreach makes it possible to dramatically expand aerial logistics and mission capabilities at a scale traditional aviation cannot economically achieve.
"Defense customers have heard plenty of promises about long-range autonomy," said Former US Pacific Air Forces Deputy Commander, Jake Jacobson, Senior Defense Advisor at Skyways. "Skyreach comes with eight years of Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force missions behind it. It gives a commander an aircraft to put to work now, with no runway, no aircrew and no waiting in line for joint airlift."
Skyreach capabilities
- Long-range, runway-independent flight. Skyreach combines electric VTOL with fuel-powered cruise, delivering over 1,300 miles of range and 18+ hours of endurance. Its hybrid system recharges batteries in flight, eliminating ground-side charging or swaps. Compatible with JP-5 and Jet A-1 fuels.
- Versatile, modular payload bay. A 7 cu. ft. cargo bay and 100 lbs. of combined fuel and payload capacity support cargo, sensing, surveillance, and communications missions. Its top-loading, bottom-release design supports autonomous airdrops or tethered cargo delivery.
- High-frequency, continuous operations. Designed for rapid turnaround and high utilization, with minimal ground infrastructure and no battery swaps, paving the way for fully autonomous ground operations.
- Built for real-world operations. Engineered for shipboard and austere environments, withstanding winds up to 40 knots, temperatures from -5°F to 120°F, and challenging weather conditions.
- Autonomy designed to scale. Advanced onboard autonomy handles flight navigation, mission execution, and emergency maneuvers, while SkyNav Mission Control enables simultaneous supervision of multiple aircraft, minimizing human intervention as fleets scale.
Downloadable Skyreach visual assets available here
Availability and key facts
Skyreach will begin flying with current defense and commercial customers in December 2026. New customers can reserve capacity now at skyways.com.
Aircraft | Skyreach, long-range autonomous VTOL cargo aircraft (developed |
Program backing | $37M AFWERX STRATFI award from the U.S. Air Force (June |
Architecture | Dual-hybrid: batteries power 8 electric VTOL motors, heavy-fuel for |
Group Classification | Group 3 / Group 2 with waiver |
Range and payload | 1,300+ mi one way at 10 lb cargo; 280+ mi one way at 80 lb cargo |
Max Flight Time | 18+ hours |
Cargo Bay / Load | 7.0 cu ft, 100 lbs useful load |
MGTOW | 360 lbs |
Fleet management | SkyNav Mission Control |
About Skyways
Based in Austin, Texas, Skyways develops and operates long-range autonomous VTOL aircraft for commercial and defense logistics. The company's aircraft are designed to move cargo and mission payloads over significant distances with less infrastructure, lower operating cost and greater flexibility than traditional aviation solutions. By combining aircraft, autonomy, flight operations and supporting infrastructure into a scalable logistics system designed for distributed and demanding environments, Skyways supports commercial and defense customers with flight-proven autonomous logistics capabilities. For more information, visit www.skyways.com.
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SOURCE Skyways
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