Orbital Corporation has secured a commercial contract with US-based autonomous cargo aircraft developer MightyFly to supply three Orbital Heavy Fuel Engine propulsion systems for its autonomous cargo aircraft development and flight test programme.
The engines are scheduled for delivery in September 2026 and will support the next phase of MightyFly’s aircraft validation programme as the company advances its autonomous cargo platform toward commercial operations.
The agreement strengthens Orbital’s presence in the rapidly expanding autonomous middle-mile logistics market, where uncrewed aircraft are increasingly being developed to transport high-value, time-sensitive cargo across commercial supply chains. The initial engine order is expected to establish the foundation for potential future production contracts as MightyFly progresses toward full-scale commercial deployment.
Stephen Pearce, CEO of Orbital Corporation, said the partnership aligns with the company’s strategy of supporting innovative commercial aviation programmes.
“MightyFly is exactly the type of commercial customer Orbital is targeting. The company is developing an innovative autonomous cargo aircraft platform addressing a rapidly emerging logistics market where autonomous aviation can deliver significant operational and economic advantages for customers transporting high-value, time-critical freight,” Pearce said.
He added that the three-engine order represents the first step in what Orbital expects to become a long-term commercial relationship.
Also Read – SAS orders 18 A330neo aircraft to advance fleet modernisation
“The initial three propulsion systems will support MightyFly’s aircraft development and flight test programme, providing a pathway to future production opportunities as the platform progresses towards commercial deployment. In our experience, commercial autonomous aviation programmes can move from development to production more quickly than traditional defence procurement programmes, which is part of what makes this an attractive growth market for Orbital,” he said.
The contract reflects growing demand for reliable propulsion systems as autonomous cargo aviation continues to gain momentum, with developers accelerating testing and certification efforts to bring next-generation logistics solutions to market.
