Flying Heavy: How DASA-funded UAS Revolutionises Military Logistics
With the help of DASA funding, ISS Aerospace developed a 600kg heavy-lift unmanned aerial system (UAS) capable of carrying 250kg payloads
- The innovation features a unique hybrid turbine generator power system that eliminates the need for complex electrical recharging infrastructure in the field
- DASA바카라 사이트檚 Defence Technology Exploitation Programme (DTEP) provided critical funding that enabled ISS to create this technology
- Successfully trialled in 2025, this project represents the first completed DTEP project
From Ship to Shore in Minutes
On naval vessels around the world, the same time-consuming scene plays out daily: crew members transfer supplies between ships or from ship to shore using small boats, manual labour, and helicopter support. This process can be slow, resource-intensive, and vulnerable to disruption from weather conditions.
Now picture a different scenario: an unmanned aerial system takes flight from a ship, automatically lands on a waiting pallet of supplies, autonomously secures its load without human intervention, and lifts off 바카라 사이트� delivering cargo to shore in a fraction of the traditional time - and then - heads back to the ship for more supplies.
With the help of DASA funding, this vision of automated logistics is becoming reality thanks to Newbury-based ISS Aerospace and their revolutionary heavy-lift drone system, funded through DASA바카라 사이트檚 Defence Technology Exploitation Programme (DTEP).
The Innovation: Power and Payload
ISS Aerospace바카라 사이트檚 system represents a significant leap forward in unmanned aerial capabilities. At 600kg total weight, it can carry a remarkable 250kg payload 바카라 사이트� equivalent to two fully-equipped soldiers 바카라 사이트� with flight times currently at 35-40 minutes.
바카라 사이트淭he innovation is three-pronged,바카라 사이트� explains Ryan Kempley, CEO, and founder of ISS Aerospace. 바카라 사이트淔irst, it is a super heavy-lift UAS, which itself is quite unique. Second, we바카라 사이트檝e brought across our heritage of super reliable, super safe systems. Third, and the main reason DTEP funded this project was because of our unique turbine power plant that powers the system바카라 사이트�.
The innovation바카라 사이트檚 standout feature is its hybrid turbine generator power system. Rather than relying on traditional battery packs that require complex and frequent recharging infrastructure, ISS Aerospace developed a system that uses efficient aviation fuel.
The hybrid turbine generator power system
바카라 사이트淥ur UASs fly around at 100 to 120 kilowatts, so they need a lot of power,바카라 사이트� Kempley explains. 바카라 사이트淵ou can buy auxiliary power unit (APU) turbine generators off the shelf, but they바카라 사이트檙e extremely expensive 바카라 사이트� in the hundreds of thousands of pounds 바카라 사이트� and very heavy, around 100+ kilos.바카라 사이트�
ISS바카라 사이트檚 solution repackages high-end micro gas turbines with hybrid battery technology to create their own 100-kilowatt generator at a fraction of the cost and weight of conventional systems.
Engineering Challenges and Breakthroughs
Creating this power system required solving complex engineering challenges. The team developed sophisticated control systems to maintain perfect balance between turbine power generation and battery usage.
바카라 사이트淚f we charge the battery too fast, problems happen. If we deplete the battery too fast, problems happen,바카라 사이트� notes Kempley. 바카라 사이트淏ut we came out with something that essentially means if all the turbines die, we still keep flying. If the battery dies and the turbines are running, we still keep flying. If one or two turbines die, we still keep flying. It바카라 사이트檚 very robust in terms of resilience.바카라 사이트�
This level of reliability is crucial for military logistics operations where failure could compromise mission-critical supplies.
The system already outperforms competitors in its class, but ISS has identified further enhancements. 바카라 사이트淲e바카라 사이트檝e already identified a new supporting turbine that takes us up to around 3-3.5 hours of flight,바카라 사이트� Kempley notes.
Transforming Military Logistics
In the competitive landscape of heavy-lift drones, ISS has positioned itself in a unique category. Below their 250-300kg payload capability sits systems carrying 60-100kg, while above them are much larger single-rotor helicopters or fixed-wing aircraft that are around the size of shipping containers.
The potential military applications are significant, particularly for naval logistics. The system can be used for last-mile ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore transport, where Kempley notes 바카라 사이트�90% of stores between ships or even on last-mile logistics are below 150 kilos.바카라 사이트�
Further enhancing its capabilities, ISS recently won another MOD contract under Project Morrigan to develop a universal payload release mechanism, allowing the drone to automatically pick up and deliver cargo without human intervention.
바카라 사이트淵ou just land on top of your package on the deck and then take off again. You바카라 사이트檙e done. There바카라 사이트檚 no unloading or loading,바카라 사이트� explains Kempley. 바카라 사이트淲hen you get to that stage, it바카라 사이트檚 many multiples quicker than current methods.바카라 사이트�
DTEP: Making Innovation Possible
For ISS Aerospace, DASA바카라 사이트檚 DTEP funding was transformative. Founded ten years ago, the company has evolved from a small commercial business into a growing enterprise with 14 staff, projected to reach 22 by year바카라 사이트檚 end 바카라 사이트� all through organic growth.
바카라 사이트淒eveloping that kind of turbine system and UAS is costly 바카라 사이트� raw materials alone are a couple hundred thousand pounds, plus hundreds of hours of man-time,바카라 사이트� Kempley emphasises. 바카라 사이트淎s a small company, we could never have afforded to just go out and decide to develop this UAS. It would have been impossible without DTEP.바카라 사이트�
DTEP바카라 사이트檚 emphasis on commercialisation and post-project success has been particularly valuable for the SME. 바카라 사이트淭here바카라 사이트檚 a lot more emphasis on commercialisation, what we바카라 사이트檙e going to do afterwards and how we바카라 사이트檙e going to make it successful바카라 사이트�, Kempley notes.
From Concept to Flight
Funded back in September 2023, this represents the first completed DASA DTEP project, highlighting the programme바카라 사이트檚 ability to bring innovative concepts to reality quickly.
The project recently culminated in successful test flights of the UAS, proving the design, and gaining valuable in-flight data, with a further demonstration planned to showcase the complete system to stakeholders. Next steps also include cosmetic additions to the platform, such as a cowling (a removable engine cover) and testing and improvement to the control and power systems before the V1 system is rolled out to end users later in 2025.
The ISS Aerospace team with the UAS
For a company that began in commercial applications before gradually expanding into defence, DASA바카라 사이트檚 support has been instrumental in enabling growth and technological advancement. ISS now balances its business with approximately 60-70% defence work and 30-40% commercial applications.
As drones continue revolutionising military logistics, ISS Aerospace바카라 사이트檚 innovation stands to transform how supplies move between ships and shore 바카라 사이트� making operations faster, more efficient, and ultimately more effective in supporting forces on the ground.