Dorsal Targets 2028 for Autonomous Airlifter Delivery to USAF

A California-based aerospace startup named Dorsal is developing a fully autonomous heavy-lift cargo aircraft aimed at transforming how the U.S. Air Force (USAF) conducts aerial logistics in contested environments. Backed by early contracts from the Department of Defense and with a stated goal of flight testing in 2026 and delivery by 2028, the company’s platform could mark a major shift toward uncrewed strategic airlift.

Dorsal’s Vision: Autonomy for Strategic Lift

Dorsal emerged from stealth in mid-2024 with a bold proposition: eliminate pilots from large cargo aircraft operations entirely. Unlike optionally piloted or remotely piloted platforms such as the MQ-25 or Kaman KARGO, Dorsal’s design is intended to be fully autonomous from inception—no cockpit, no onboard crew provisions.

The company’s concept centers on a fixed-wing platform capable of carrying tens of thousands of pounds of cargo over intercontinental distances without human intervention. This approach aligns with emerging U.S. military doctrine emphasizing distributed operations and resilient logistics under fire—particularly in the Indo-Pacific theater where long ranges and anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) threats complicate traditional airlift missions.

“We’re building an aircraft that can fly itself across oceans with zero humans onboard,” said Dorsal CEO Matt George in an interview with Defense One. “This isn’t just about replacing pilots—it’s about rethinking what global logistics looks like when autonomy is native.”

Key Features and Design Philosophy

Dorsal has not yet publicly disclosed detailed specifications or renderings of its platform, but several characteristics have been confirmed through interviews and filings:

Payload Capacity: Targeting between 20–30 metric tons (comparable to C-130J Super Hercules).
Range: Designed for transoceanic flights exceeding 4,000 nautical miles.
Propulsion: Likely turboprop or turbofan configuration; propulsion partner not yet announced.
No Cockpit: Entirely uncrewed; all avionics and controls are embedded for autonomous operation.
Cargo Handling: Modular loading systems compatible with standard military pallets (463L).

The aircraft will incorporate advanced AI-based flight control systems capable of dynamic rerouting, threat avoidance (e.g., SAMs or GPS jamming), and precision landing on austere runways or semi-prepared surfaces—a capability critical for Pacific island-hopping scenarios or rapid response in denied areas.

Defense Backing and Contractual Milestones

Dorsal has already secured multiple early-stage contracts through AFWERX (the USAF innovation accelerator), including Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II awards valued at several million dollars combined. Additionally, it has received support from U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM), which oversees DoD-wide mobility operations.

A key milestone was reached in Q3 2024 when the company signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). This allows joint development work on autonomy algorithms, sense-and-avoid capabilities, and integration into existing mobility command-and-control systems like TACC (Tanker Airlift Control Center).

If successful in initial prototyping phases through FY26–FY27, Dorsal could transition into a formal Other Transaction Authority (OTA) agreement or even be considered under future Rapid Defense Experimentation Reserve (RDER) initiatives focused on contested logistics.

The Strategic Context: Contested Logistics in Indo-Pacific Scenarios

The Pentagon’s shift toward distributed maritime operations and expeditionary advanced base operations (EABO) has underscored the need for survivable logistics that do not rely on vulnerable hubs like Guam or Okinawa. In this context, uncrewed cargo aircraft offer several advantages:

Crew Risk Reduction: No pilots means no risk of capture or loss over hostile territory.
Sustainability: Autonomous platforms can operate continuously without rest cycles or crew rotation constraints.
Austere Access: Capable of landing at minimally prepared sites closer to front-line units.

This concept also overlaps with other DoD efforts such as DARPA’s Liberty Lifter program—an experimental seaplane designed for low-cost heavy lift—and Kratos’ stealthy drones for strike/logistics hybrid roles. However, Dorsal appears unique in its focus on strategic-scale payloads without any human-in-the-loop requirement during flight missions.

Challenges Ahead: Certification, Trust & Integration

The path to fielding an autonomous airlifter is fraught with technical and regulatory hurdles. Chief among them is certification—both airworthiness under FAA/USAF standards and mission assurance under combat conditions. As no fully autonomous fixed-wing transport has ever been certified for operational use at this scale, Dorsal will likely need novel frameworks akin to those developed for MQ-25 Stingray or XQ-58 Valkyrie programs.

Trust in AI decision-making during long-haul flights—especially when rerouting around storms or adversary threats—is another barrier that AFRL teams are actively studying through digital twins and real-world testbeds such as Skyborg Vanguard programs. Integration into joint C2 networks like Link-16 or future ABMS architectures will also be essential if these platforms are to operate alongside manned tankers or ISR assets during multi-domain ops.

A Competitive Landscape Emerges

Dorsal is not alone in pursuing next-gen aerial resupply concepts. Competitors include:

Natilus: Developing blended-wing-body drones optimized for commercial freight but adaptable for military use; targeting similar payload classes (~60 tons).
MightyFly & Elroy Air: Smaller-scale VTOL/autonomous cargo drones focused on intra-theater resupply (<500 kg payloads).
Boeing Phantom Works & Lockheed Skunk Works: Likely exploring classified variants under black programs related to unmanned mobility/logistics support roles.

Outlook Toward Flight Testing by FY26

Dorsal expects its first subscale demonstrator flights by late FY25 with full-scale prototype testing targeted for mid-FY26 at test ranges likely including Edwards AFB or Yuma Proving Ground. If those milestones are met—and assuming favorable results from autonomy validation trials—the company aims to deliver its first production-representative unit to USAF Mobility Command by calendar year 2028.

Sourcing & Transparency Going Forward

The company remains relatively quiet about its industrial partners but confirmed it is working closely with Tier I aerospace suppliers on structural components and avionics integration. More details may emerge during upcoming defense innovation showcases such as AFA Warfare Symposium or XPONENTIAL Expo if Dorsal chooses to unveil mockups publicly.

Conclusion: A High-Risk Bet With High Operational Payoff

If successful, Dorsal’s autonomous airlifter could redefine how militaries think about strategic lift—not merely as a matter of tonnage moved per sortie but as a flexible node within an intelligent logistics web capable of adapting autonomously under threat conditions. While technical risks remain high due to certification complexity and trust barriers around AI flight control at scale, the operational payoff—crew-free global reach—is significant enough that DoD stakeholders appear willing to invest early-stage capital into maturing this capability ahead of peer competitors like China’s AVIC initiatives in unmanned transport aviation.