US Air Force awards Natilus $3.5 million for KONA cargo aircraft

The US Air Force has awarded US-based aerospace manufacturer Natilus $3.5 million in research, development, test and evaluation funding to advance its KONA regional freighter towards full-scale flight testing and an operational demonstration for military logistics.

The funding was provided through Operational Energy – Innovation (OE-I) and the Department of the Air Force, under the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Energy, Installations and Environment. It will support the development of KONA, a 3.8-tonne, optionally piloted aircraft designed for regional cargo distribution and logistics operations in contested environments.

KONA is designed to bridge the capability gap between light utility aircraft, such as the Cessna C-208, and larger tactical airlifters, including the C-130. With a payload capacity of 3.8 tonnes and a range of 800 nautical miles, the aircraft is intended to support regional cargo movements, including operations from short runways and locations with limited infrastructure.

Blended-wing design targets lower fuel consumption Natilus said KONA’s blended-wing-body configuration is designed to consume approximately 30% less fuel than comparable conventional aircraft. The reduced fuel requirement could help improve operational flexibility in regions where fuel supply and distribution are challenging.

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