US Air Force tests MightyFly Cento heavy cargo drone to improve autonomous military logistics
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On June 27, 2025, the Californian company MightyFly announced that they had performed a live autonomous cargo flight demonstration for the US Air Force at New Jerusalem Airport in California. This demonstration, held on May 8, 2025, was part of a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract under the Department of the Air Force’s AFWERX program, which aims to accelerate innovative capabilities from private companies.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The MightyFlight Cento cargo drone is powered by nine electric motors, including eight fixed VTOL lift fans and one pusher propeller, and supported by a hybrid system where a combustion engine recharges the onboard battery during flight. (Picture source: MightyFlight)
The flight showcased the autonomous capabilities of MightyFly’s third-generation Cento aircraft and the operation of its proprietary Autonomous Load Mastering System (ALMS), completing a Department of Defense-relevant mission that involved cargo loading, transport, delivery, and onboard package management without any manual intervention. The demonstration formed part of a broader effort to validate the platform’s suitability for multi-sector logistics support, including use cases in defense, manufacturing, disaster relief, healthcare, retail, and other commercial areas.
The Cento aircraft transported two large boxes from a designated origin to an initial drop-off location, autonomously loading the packages using the ALMS, which secured the cargo, calculated weight and balance, and closed the aircraft’s forward nose cone before departure. Upon reaching the destination, the aircraft landed, ejected the packages, and then proceeded to a third location. The cargo operations were executed without operator input, and the aircraft maintained full autonomy throughout the mission. The system also demonstrated the handling of sector-representative packages during the test. The event aligns with ongoing collaborations between MightyFly and U.S. military bodies, including Agility Prime and Air Mobility Command, for autonomous aerial logistics development. The ALMS is intended to reduce ground resource requirements and enable more efficient point-to-point operations.
The third-generation Cento aircraft is a hybrid-electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) cargo drone measuring 4.0 meters in length and 5.1 meters in wingspan, with an empty weight of 180 kilograms and a maximum takeoff weight of 249 kilograms. It is powered by nine electric motors, including eight fixed VTOL lift fans and one pusher propeller, and supported by a hybrid system where a combustion engine recharges the onboard battery during flight. The aircraft has a 966-kilometer range, a maximum cruising speed of 240 kilometers per hour, and an internal cargo bay measuring 183 by 47 by 49 centimeters, capable of carrying up to 45 kilograms or 212 small USPS packages. Cargo is managed through a fully autonomous conveyor system for loading and unloading. The Cento incorporates a tandem wing configuration, a modular and composite airframe for weight reduction and maintainability, and structural conductors intended to improve reliability. The aircraft’s canard doubles as landing gear to reduce aerodynamic drag.
MightyFly began autonomous flight testing of the Cento in December 2022 and revealed its third-generation prototype in January 2024. The aircraft received FAA Special Airworthiness and Certificate of Authorization (COA) approvals for a 595 square kilometer flight corridor between New Jerusalem and Byron Airports in California, up to 1,524 meters in altitude. This certification includes permission to conduct beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) testing with a chase aircraft. Since March 2024, the third-generation Cento has conducted over 30 autonomous test flights within this airspace, following a campaign of ground testing. The FAA approvals allow the company to evaluate long-range command and control (C2) links, detect-and-avoid systems, and A-to-B flight performance in a general aviation environment. These activities are part of a broader strategy to secure FAA Part 135 air carrier and operator certification, necessary for commercial logistics operations in the United States and internationally.
MightyFly was founded in 2019 by aerospace engineer Manal Habib, who previously worked on commercial drone flight control systems and holds degrees from MIT and Stanford. The company is headquartered in San Leandro, California, and has received backing from investors including Draper Associates, At One Ventures, Global Founders Capital, Graph Ventures, Halogen Ventures, and Side Door Ventures. As of early 2024, MightyFly completed production of its third-generation Cento and plans to scale its manufacturing capabilities. The company is preparing for proof-of-concept (POC) delivery trials in collaboration with commercial and government partners in 2024 and 2025, including a scheduled demonstration of autonomous delivery operations in Michigan under a $150,000 grant awarded by the Michigan Mobility Funding Platform. The demonstration will illustrate use cases for just-in-time manufacturing, medical deliveries, and supply chain logistics across sectors such as automotive, retail, and pharmaceuticals.
The Cento platform was designed in response to logistics challenges linked to supply chain disruptions and the growing demand for expedited delivery services. It supports a direct, one-shot delivery model that avoids the delays associated with traditional multi-step transportation systems. The platform requires minimal landing space, equivalent to two to three parking spots, and does not depend on airport infrastructure or charging stations. The FAA-approved cargo corridor enables MightyFly to carry out long-range A-to-B demonstrations, including in Michigan and future demonstrations for the U.S. Air Force. MightyFly asserts that aircraft requiring manual operation or intermediate stops between flights lack the convenience and scalability necessary for just-in-time logistics. The combination of hybrid propulsion, vertical takeoff and landing, autonomous operation, and multi-package capacity is presented as a differentiator in a competitive aerial logistics sector.
MightyFly is simultaneously pursuing development of a 500-pound (227-kilogram) payload variant and exploring airworthiness certification in regions beyond the United States. The company’s vision includes expanding same-day cargo delivery capabilities into remote, rural, and contested environments, and offering direct-to-point logistics services for customers ranging from manufacturers and hospitals to humanitarian responders and defense operators. As of mid-2025, MightyFly is finalizing additional proof-of-concept programs and preparing for expanded flight demonstrations to further evaluate the Cento’s capabilities in operational contexts. With continued testing and regulatory progress, the company intends to support long-range, autonomous logistics infrastructure for diverse domestic and international clients, while continuing its engagement with defense innovation initiatives through the AFWERX and AFRL ecosystems.
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On June 27, 2025, the Californian company MightyFly announced that they had performed a live autonomous cargo flight demonstration for the US Air Force at New Jerusalem Airport in California. This demonstration, held on May 8, 2025, was part of a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract under the Department of the Air Force’s AFWERX program, which aims to accelerate innovative capabilities from private companies.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The MightyFlight Cento cargo drone is powered by nine electric motors, including eight fixed VTOL lift fans and one pusher propeller, and supported by a hybrid system where a combustion engine recharges the onboard battery during flight. (Picture source: MightyFlight)
The flight showcased the autonomous capabilities of MightyFly’s third-generation Cento aircraft and the operation of its proprietary Autonomous Load Mastering System (ALMS), completing a Department of Defense-relevant mission that involved cargo loading, transport, delivery, and onboard package management without any manual intervention. The demonstration formed part of a broader effort to validate the platform’s suitability for multi-sector logistics support, including use cases in defense, manufacturing, disaster relief, healthcare, retail, and other commercial areas.
The Cento aircraft transported two large boxes from a designated origin to an initial drop-off location, autonomously loading the packages using the ALMS, which secured the cargo, calculated weight and balance, and closed the aircraft’s forward nose cone before departure. Upon reaching the destination, the aircraft landed, ejected the packages, and then proceeded to a third location. The cargo operations were executed without operator input, and the aircraft maintained full autonomy throughout the mission. The system also demonstrated the handling of sector-representative packages during the test. The event aligns with ongoing collaborations between MightyFly and U.S. military bodies, including Agility Prime and Air Mobility Command, for autonomous aerial logistics development. The ALMS is intended to reduce ground resource requirements and enable more efficient point-to-point operations.
The third-generation Cento aircraft is a hybrid-electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) cargo drone measuring 4.0 meters in length and 5.1 meters in wingspan, with an empty weight of 180 kilograms and a maximum takeoff weight of 249 kilograms. It is powered by nine electric motors, including eight fixed VTOL lift fans and one pusher propeller, and supported by a hybrid system where a combustion engine recharges the onboard battery during flight. The aircraft has a 966-kilometer range, a maximum cruising speed of 240 kilometers per hour, and an internal cargo bay measuring 183 by 47 by 49 centimeters, capable of carrying up to 45 kilograms or 212 small USPS packages. Cargo is managed through a fully autonomous conveyor system for loading and unloading. The Cento incorporates a tandem wing configuration, a modular and composite airframe for weight reduction and maintainability, and structural conductors intended to improve reliability. The aircraft’s canard doubles as landing gear to reduce aerodynamic drag.
MightyFly began autonomous flight testing of the Cento in December 2022 and revealed its third-generation prototype in January 2024. The aircraft received FAA Special Airworthiness and Certificate of Authorization (COA) approvals for a 595 square kilometer flight corridor between New Jerusalem and Byron Airports in California, up to 1,524 meters in altitude. This certification includes permission to conduct beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) testing with a chase aircraft. Since March 2024, the third-generation Cento has conducted over 30 autonomous test flights within this airspace, following a campaign of ground testing. The FAA approvals allow the company to evaluate long-range command and control (C2) links, detect-and-avoid systems, and A-to-B flight performance in a general aviation environment. These activities are part of a broader strategy to secure FAA Part 135 air carrier and operator certification, necessary for commercial logistics operations in the United States and internationally.
MightyFly was founded in 2019 by aerospace engineer Manal Habib, who previously worked on commercial drone flight control systems and holds degrees from MIT and Stanford. The company is headquartered in San Leandro, California, and has received backing from investors including Draper Associates, At One Ventures, Global Founders Capital, Graph Ventures, Halogen Ventures, and Side Door Ventures. As of early 2024, MightyFly completed production of its third-generation Cento and plans to scale its manufacturing capabilities. The company is preparing for proof-of-concept (POC) delivery trials in collaboration with commercial and government partners in 2024 and 2025, including a scheduled demonstration of autonomous delivery operations in Michigan under a $150,000 grant awarded by the Michigan Mobility Funding Platform. The demonstration will illustrate use cases for just-in-time manufacturing, medical deliveries, and supply chain logistics across sectors such as automotive, retail, and pharmaceuticals.
The Cento platform was designed in response to logistics challenges linked to supply chain disruptions and the growing demand for expedited delivery services. It supports a direct, one-shot delivery model that avoids the delays associated with traditional multi-step transportation systems. The platform requires minimal landing space, equivalent to two to three parking spots, and does not depend on airport infrastructure or charging stations. The FAA-approved cargo corridor enables MightyFly to carry out long-range A-to-B demonstrations, including in Michigan and future demonstrations for the U.S. Air Force. MightyFly asserts that aircraft requiring manual operation or intermediate stops between flights lack the convenience and scalability necessary for just-in-time logistics. The combination of hybrid propulsion, vertical takeoff and landing, autonomous operation, and multi-package capacity is presented as a differentiator in a competitive aerial logistics sector.
MightyFly is simultaneously pursuing development of a 500-pound (227-kilogram) payload variant and exploring airworthiness certification in regions beyond the United States. The company’s vision includes expanding same-day cargo delivery capabilities into remote, rural, and contested environments, and offering direct-to-point logistics services for customers ranging from manufacturers and hospitals to humanitarian responders and defense operators. As of mid-2025, MightyFly is finalizing additional proof-of-concept programs and preparing for expanded flight demonstrations to further evaluate the Cento’s capabilities in operational contexts. With continued testing and regulatory progress, the company intends to support long-range, autonomous logistics infrastructure for diverse domestic and international clients, while continuing its engagement with defense innovation initiatives through the AFWERX and AFRL ecosystems.
