Natilus Awarded $3.5M by U.S. Air Force
Natilus has been awarded $3.5 million in U.S. Air Force RDT&E funding to accelerate the development of its KONA blended-wing-body aircraft toward full-scale flight testing and an operationally relevant demonstration for the U.S. Joint Force.
The funding, provided through Operational Energy – Innovation (OE-I) and the Department of the Air Force, marks an important step in the development of KONA as a new dual-use platform for regional airlift and contested logistics.
A New Approach to Distributed Logistics
KONA is designed to fill the gap between light utility aircraft such as the C-208 and larger tactical airlifters such as the C-130.
With a 3.8-ton payload capacity and an 800-nautical-mile range, the optionally piloted aircraft is designed for short-field operations and compatibility with existing cargo infrastructure.
Its blended-wing-body configuration is also designed to deliver significant efficiency gains, with approximately 30% lower fuel consumption than comparable conventional aircraft.
Designed for Contested Operating Environments
The capability is particularly relevant to distributed operations in regions such as the Indo-Pacific, where long distances, dispersed operating locations, and constrained fuel logistics create significant operational challenges.
By reducing fuel demand while providing regional lift capacity, KONA could offer the Joint Force greater flexibility for intra-theater distribution and contested logistics.
The aircraft’s modular and optionally piloted architecture could also support future configurations for missions such as communications relay, ISR, and payload delivery.
From Commercial Development to Defence Demonstration
Natilus is developing KONA as part of a broader commercial aircraft programme while progressing toward FAA Part 23 certification and full-scale flight testing.
The new government funding will accelerate the transition toward an operational demonstration, allowing the U.S. Air Force to evaluate KONA’s payload, range, efficiency, reliability, and flexibility in a relevant operational context.
With more than 570 aircraft pre-orders valued at $24 billion, Natilus is simultaneously pursuing commercial and defence applications for its blended-wing-body aircraft family.
