Bulgarian Company Dronamics and Japanese company Kawasaki Motors Become Strategic Partners for Development of Aircraft Engines

Dronamics Photo

Japanese engine, motorcycle, and motor vehicle manufacturer Kawasaki Motors has announced a strategic partnership with Bulgarian civil unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) manufacturer Dronamics. The collaboration focuses on the development of Kawasaki's aero-piston engines for various aviation applications and their integration into Dronamics' flagship platform, Black Swan , a civil unmanned cargo aircraft capable of carrying up to 350 kg of cargo over a distance of 2,500 km, Dronamics told BTA.

The long-term cooperation combines Kawasaki Motors' experience in engine innovation with Dronamics's experience in the design, manufacture, and operation of UAVs. The partnership will allow the two companies to collaborate throughout the entire project lifecycle, from engine development to testing. This includes research and development and integration engineering, flight testing, and validation of Dronamics's Black Swan civil cargo UAV, with the aim of setting a new standard in aviation propulsion.

"This strategic partnership with Kawasaki Motors marks a significant step forward in unmanned aviation technology. As a research and development partner, we are not only implementing Kawasaki Motors' cutting-edge aero-piston engines, but also collaborating to shape the future characteristics of aircraft. The fact that Kawasaki Motors chose our Black Swan cargo drone platform for its renewed focus on aviation propulsion is a real honor for us and proof of the technological leadership that our team at Dronamics has built over the past decade," said Konstantin Rangelov, co-founder and chief technical officer of Dronamics.

With this collaboration, the Bulgarian company is strengthening its ties with Japanese industry, as the carbon fibers used in the Black Swan drone are sourced from Japan. This opens up the possibility of an all-Japanese version of the Black Swan, designed for the Japanese market, serving not only civil cargo transport but also providing assistance in disasters, emergency supplies, firefighting, and other civil protection missions.

Hiroshi Tomomori, Managing Executive Officer of Kawasaki Motors, called the partnership with Dronamics an exciting and important step in Kawasaki Motors' renewed commitment to aerospace innovation. By combining our longstanding experience in engine development with Dronamics's pioneering technology for unmanned aerial vehicles, they aim to deliver propulsion systems that redefine performance and sustainability in unmanned and traditional civil aviation, he said.

Kawasaki Motors is part of the Kawasaki Heavy Industries Group and is known for its high-performance motorcycles. The company builds on its long history of engineering and manufacturing expertise, as well as its heritage in aviation engineering.

Dronamics's experience in aerospace innovation, including the design, manufacture, and operation of long-range, high-payload cargo drones, is expected to help accelerate the time to market for Kawasaki Motors' next-generation powertrains, extending beyond the field of UAV applications.

The advanced engine technology is expected to improve aircraft performance and sustainability, further cementing Dronamics's Black Swan's market-leading combination of payload, range, speed, and cost-effectiveness, the Bulgarian company added.