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UAE officials posing in front of the LODD Hili hybrid cargo UAV at the first flight ceremony
News

November 13, 2025

LODD Completes First Flight of Hili – The UAE’s First Hybrid Heavy Cargo UAV, Designed, Built and Tested in Abu Dhabi

Hili hybrid heavy lift cargo aircraft

Under the presence of His Highness Sheikh [Insert Name when confirmed], and in the attendance of senior government officials, dignitaries, and global industry leaders, LODD Autonomous successfully completed the first flight of Hili, the UAE’s first hybrid vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) heavy-cargo aircraft designed, built, and tested in Abu Dhabi for the world.

The historic event, held at LODD’s flight test facility at Emirates Falcon Aviation in Al Ain represents a defining national milestone in the advancement of autonomous aviation drone services and next-generation cargo logistics.

The ceremony featured an address by His Excellency Faisal Al Bannai, Advisor to the UAE President for Strategic Research and Advanced Technology Affairs, who commended the achievement as “a testament to Abu Dhabi’s vision and continued investment in enabling homegrown innovation that competes on a global scale.”

The successful first flight of Hili marks a major engineering and operational achievement for LODD Autonomous, underscoring the UAE’s growing capability to design and manufacture our autonomous cargo aircraft and advanced aerospace systems.

Developed through an intensive and safety-driven program, Hili demonstrates the nation’s ability to transform vision into reality with speed, precision, and uncompromising safety, achieving flight readiness in record time while meeting rigorous performance and quality standards.

With a payload capacity of 250 kilograms and a range of up to 700 kilometres, Hili combines hybrid-electric propulsion with a modular design to deliver safe, efficient, and sustainable cargo operations for both regional and international logistics networks.

Demonstrating the international confidence in the UAE’s innovation ecosystem, LODD Autonomous has established a strong foundation of global and national partnerships:

  • Etihad Cargo (UAE): Earlier this month, on 3 November 2025, LODD signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the national carrier’s cargo division, making Etihad Cargo the first adopter of an aircraft designed and built in Abu Dhabi — a proud milestone for the UAE’s aviation sector.
  • EMX (UAE): On 10 November 2025, on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Summit, LODD signed a Collaboration Agreement with EMX, supported by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), to integrate drone logistics into next-generation smart supply chain operations.
  • Skyports Drone Services (United Kingdom): During the first flight ceremony, LODD signed an agreement with Skyports Drone Services, a trusted global leader in drone operations, to introduce Hili into the UK market and Skyports’ global network.
  • ST Engineering Aerospace (Singapore): LODD also formalized an agreement with ST Engineering, one of the world’s largest aerospace companies, to bring Hili into key Asian markets.

Speaking at the event, Rashid Al Manai, Chief Executive Officer of LODD Autonomous, said: “We extend our deepest gratitude to the UAE’s leadership for their unwavering vision and support in empowering local innovation and industrial capability. The successful first flight of Hili is a proud reflection of that vision, an aircraft designed, built, and flown in Abu Dhabi through an intensive, safety-first program led by a passionate and dedicated team. Hili represents more than a technological milestone. It is a symbol of the UAE’s ability to transform ideas into world-class achievements and share them with global partners.”

With these achievements, LODD Autonomous reinforces its role as a national champion in advanced air mobility, advancing the UAE’s vision to be a global leader in autonomous systems, sustainable logistics, and future-ready aviation technologies.

“Their vision to develop a nationally enabling environment has allowed us to design, manufacture, and test Hili entirely in the UAE — for the world. This milestone demonstrates the UAE’s capability to deliver homegrown technologies with global impact, reinforcing its position as a hub for advanced air mobility and next-generation logistics,” he added.

With these achievements, LODD Autonomous reinforces its role as a national champion in advanced air mobility — advancing the UAE’s vision to be a global leader in autonomous systems, sustainable logistics, and future-ready aviation technologies.