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Robot maker · registered

Skyways

Corporate marketdeliveryCurated record
skyways.com

Long-range autonomous cargo UAS with VTOL rotors and heavy-fuel (JP-5/Jet A-1) hybrid propulsion; shared autonomy stack across V2 and V3; autonomous navigation and mission routing designed for beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) operations in harsh environments including offshore maritime, arctic oil fields, and remote island logistics; serves commercial (oil & gas, air cargo) and defense (US Air Force STRATFI V3 production) markets in parallel.

HeadquartersAustin, US
Founded2017
Corporate funding$43M
Team11-50
Deployments7
Open roles21
01

Company overview

Identity and operating footprint

Company typeRobot maker
Market segmentCorporate
StageSeed
FoundersCharles Acknin (CEO)
Regions servedNorth America, Europe, Asia
Countries deployedUS, DE, JP
Service footprintHQ Austin TX; V2 in daily production flights on 3 continents; V3 in AFWERX-funded production ramp; clients span US defense, EU offshore energy (Arkona Baltic Sea, DE), and Japan remote-island logistics (ANA).
Last reviewed2026-07-05
MX

Robot models

Specifications remain vendor-claimed

Machinedelivery

Skyways V2

  • 450-mile maximum range; 30 lbs useful load

    vendor-stated maximum range and payload for V2 production aircraft

    Claim source
  • ~8 hours maximum endurance; 1 ft³ cargo volume

    vendor-stated maximum flight endurance and cargo volume for V2

    Claim source
  • VTOL with heavy-fuel (JP-5 / Jet A-1) hybrid engine; double-hybrid design

    vendor-stated propulsion configuration for V2

    Claim source
Machinedelivery

Skyways V3

  • 1,000+ mile maximum range; 100 lbs useful load

    vendor-stated maximum range and payload for V3 aircraft in development

    Claim source
  • 20+ hour maximum endurance; 7 ft³ cargo volume

    vendor-stated maximum flight endurance and cargo volume for V3

    Claim source
  • Nearly 200 test flights completed; BVLOS demonstrated in controlled FAA airspace

    vendor-stated test flight progress and BVLOS capability as of August 2025

    Claim source
DP

Deployment log

Announced and cited only

AnnouncedCustomerSiteCountryCountEvidence
2026-06-23ANA Holdingsremote island logisticsJPNot disclosedAnnouncement
2025-11-21U.S. NavydefenseUSNot disclosedAnnouncement
2025-11-21DSV (logistics)logisticsDKNot disclosedAnnouncement
2025-11-21Japan Self-Defense ForcesdefenseJPNot disclosedAnnouncement
2025-10-16Skyports Drone Services / RWE (Arkona Offshore Windfarm)offshore wind turbine cargo deliveryDENot disclosedAnnouncement
2025-08-21U.S. Department of Defense (Project ULTRA)military base, BVLOS logistics between air force basesUSNot disclosedAnnouncement
2025-06-09U.S. Air Force (AFWERX)defense / military operationsUSNot disclosedAnnouncement
CA

Funding history

Publicly announced rounds

Investors on recordY CombinatorCapital FactorySocial CapitalLiquid 2 VenturesUpHonest CapitalDefense AngelsMakers Camp
HR

Hiring signal

Public job board · 2026-07-13

Open roles21

Hiring is an operating signal, not deployment evidence. Roles are refreshed from the company’s public careers system.

Autonomy LeadSkyways · Austin, TXChief Technology OfficerSkyways · Austin, TXDirector of HardwareSkyways · Austin, TXDirector of ProductionSkyways · Austin, TXDirector of SoftwareSkyways · Austin, TXFlight OperatorSkyways · Austin, TXLove Aviation? Apply Today!Skyways · Austin, TXQA Engineering ManagerSkyways · Austin, TX
TL

Company timeline

Milestones and announcements

2025-10-16First autonomous cargo drone deliveries to Arkona Offshore Windfarm (Baltic Sea, Germany) with RWE and Skyports: 50-mile BVLOS round-trips in 26 minutesSkyways
2025-08-21Project ULTRA: completed 20 BVLOS flights (10 round trips) between Grand Forks AFB and Cavalier Space Force Station, ND; delivered 230 lbs cargo: first UAS provider to complete DoD demonstration in controlled airspaceBusinessWire
2025-06-26Secured $5M debt facility from Leonid Capital Partners (non-dilutive) to accelerate V3 production for U.S. DoDSkyways
2025-06-09Secured $37M AFWERX STRATFI contract: one of the largest ever: to transition V3 from prototype to full-rate productionBusinessWire
SC

Source ledger

9 unique public sources

01
Skyways Secures $5 Million Debt Facility to Accelerate Production of Autonomous Cargo Drones for U.S. Department of DefenseSkyways · retrieved 2026-07-05
02
Skyways Secures $37 Million US Air Force Contract to Rapidly Scale Autonomous Cargo DronesBusiness Wire · retrieved 2026-07-05
03
Skyways: Funding, Team & Investors: $1M Seed June 2017 (YC S17 batch)Startup Intros · retrieved 2026-07-05
04
Skyways: In ProductionSkyways · retrieved 2026-07-05
05
Skyways Completes Historic Cargo Drone Flights Between Airports for U.S. MilitaryBusinessWire · retrieved 2026-07-05
06
Customer Story: ANA and Skyways Are Building a Logistics Backbone for Japan's Remote IslandsSkyways · retrieved 2026-07-05
07
Skyways: Inside its aspirations to build the world's largest autonomous cargo aircraft fleetThe Drone Girl · retrieved 2026-07-05
08
Skyways Powers Historic Cargo Deliveries to Offshore Windfarm - Skywaysskyways · retrieved 2026-07-05
09
Press Releases - NewsroomSkyways · retrieved 2026-07-05