When the Rangelov brothers founded Dronamics in 2014, they began their mission to transform the face of Europe’s logistics industry. Over a decade later, Svilen Rangelov, co-Founder and CEO, joins us to discuss the Black Swan cargo drone platform – soon to be commercially operational – which will democratise air freight by making it more efficient, affordable, and accessible.
THE FUTURE OF AIR FREIGHT
Arguably the backbone of the global economy, rapid and reliable logistics have been key in keeping markets moving and economies thriving throughout history.
Indeed, in a European context, the free movement of goods remains one of the EU single market’s fundamental liberties.
“Logistics today is about more than just efficiency; it’s about sovereignty and resilience, and is the foundation upon which our economy thrives,” introduces Svilen Rangelov, co-Founder and CEO of Dronamics – a company which is aiming to make a significant impact on Europe’s logistics industry as the creator of the world’s first cargo drone airline.
Dronamics’ Black Swan cargo drone platform facilitates point-to-point cargo transportation that unlocks bottlenecks and enables same-day delivery of goods across the continent.
With over 4,000 airports and airfields – many of which are currently underutilised or inactive – Europe boasts a vast, untapped network that could be repurposed for crucial logistics operations.
Dronamics’ cargo drone platform is designed to be deployed at smaller airports and airfields with minimal infrastructure, effectively reviving these sites.
This is intended to bring logistics closer to the origin of goods, simplify supply chains, and create new efficiencies in terms of time, cost, and emissions.
Beyond powering e-commerce, spare parts, and fresh produce delivery, the company’s cargo drone platform can also serve more critical civil needs, from distributing medical supplies and humanitarian aid to disaster relief and emergency response.
“The same technology that drives commercial growth can also strengthen Europe’s ability to respond quickly and effectively when it matters most,” Rangelov emphasises.
PERFORMANCE, EFFICIENCY, AND SUSTAINABILITY
Having transformed the face of Europe’s logistics industry in just over a decade, Dronamics has been on an impressive, impactful journey to revolutionise air cargo.
Upon inception, the company’s founders were making a deliberate choice to solve the middle-mile logistics challenge.
“The middle-mile is where we see the most delays and bottlenecks and is the ripest for technological transformation – especially when it comes to underserved and remote areas,” Rangelov points out.
As such, Dronamics tasked itself with designing a technology that can carry a meaningful payload and travel an equally meaningful distance.
This translated into design decisions that informed its cargo drone platform, the Black Swan.
“We developed a clean sheet aerospace programme from scratch, built and successfully flew the Black Swan prototype, and became Europe’s first licensed cargo drone airline,” he summarises.
The company is also the first cargo drone airline in the world to be issued both an International Air Transport Association (IATA) and International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) designator code – the same credentials that traditional airlines use to operate globally.
Most recently, Dronamics announced a strategic partnership with Japanese mobility manufacturer Kawasaki Motors to integrate advanced aero piston engines into the Black Swan.
This collaboration enhances performance, efficiency, and sustainability, and opens the door to a Japanese-built version of the drone for both civilian cargo and critical civil protection missions.
“It’s a strong validation of the technology leadership we’ve built and a clear signal of our growing global impact,” Rangelov prides.
“By lowering barriers to entry, reducing costs, and improving speed, we’re making air freight truly accessible and scalable”
Svilen Rangelov, co-Founder and CEO, Dronamics
UNLOCKING ACCESS TO AIR FREIGHT
Interestingly, the Black Swan was not adapted from passenger aircraft – which is where most cargo aircraft originate from.
“Built specifically for cargo, the Black Swan is a lightweight carbon-fibre structure with optimised aerodynamics and efficient propulsion which allow it to carry 350 kilogrammes over 2,500 kilometres at a speed faster than road transportation and cheaper than air,” Rangelov explains.
Indeed, Dronamics reports the Black Swan to achieve up to 80 percent faster delivery times whilst being 50 percent cheaper.
Choosing to operate from smaller airfields as opposed to major hubs – which can lead to an over-stretched budget – has enabled the company to further cut costs.
Indeed, the aircraft’s simple design and fuel-efficient engine lowers operating costs, whilst its emissions are reduced by up to 60 percent compared to alternative modes of transport, including air freight.
Currently, only one percent of worldwide goods are transported by air due to the expenses associated.
A cargo drone solution such as Dronamics’ could help unlock the other 99 percent – particularly for communities and businesses that currently don’t have access to air freight due to a lack of infrastructure or associated costs.
“Air freight has traditionally been expensive and therefore reserved for high-value goods, leaving many businesses and regions underserved. We founded Dronamics to change that,” he outlines.
As such, the Black Swan platform makes cargo transport faster, cheaper, and more reliable, unlocking access to thousands of smaller regional airports that conventional aircraft cannot serve due to a lack of necessary infrastructure.
This means small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), remote communities, and critical services can all begin to benefit from same-day deliveries – whether for spare parts, fresh produce, or medical supplies.
“By lowering barriers to entry, reducing costs, and improving speed, we’re making air freight truly accessible and scalable,” Rangelov asserts.
TECHNOLOGICAL SOVEREIGNTY
As the only European company to build, test, and fly locally manufactured large cargo drones, Dronamics is reducing strategic dependencies and strengthening the EU’s technological sovereignty.
By designing, building, and operating the Black Swan in Europe, the company has afforded the continent with access to homegrown, advanced drone capabilities.
In turn, this has decreased reliance on external suppliers for critical logistics and aerospace technologies, bolstering Europe’s strategic autonomy.
“We’ve created a homegrown solution for both commercial and civil protection applications – from same-day deliveries to civil protection missions such as disaster relief, medical supply distribution, and emergency response,” Rangelov reflects.
On a mission to democratise air freight through sustainable, EU-developed drone technology, Dronamics is proud of the progress it has made within Europe.
At Dronamics’ R&D centre in Sofia, Bulgaria, for example, it is actively building large cargo drones that are 50 to 90 percent more affordable to produce and run than the alternatives.
“We are designing, building, and optimising the aircraft based on tests under a single roof. This ensures tight integration, efficiency, and quality control,” he tells us.
For the few parts sourced externally, the company works with certified suppliers.
“This vertically integrated model enables us to significantly reduce operating costs compared to conventional aircraft,” Rangelov adds.
“Our vision is a world where cargo moves as efficiently and affordably as information, with the Black Swan platform at the centre of a new optimised logistics ecosystem”
Svilen Rangelov, co-Founder and CEO, Dronamics
LOOKING AHEAD
In June this year, Dronamics was put forward for an equity investment of up to €30 million under the European Innovation Council’s (EIC) Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) Scale Up scheme.
The funding supports breakthrough companies by investing between €10 and €30 million and attracting additional private investment.
Being put forward for this programme means that the European Commission recognises Dronamics as a significant and strategic technology provider.
The end goal is to enable financing rounds of between €50 and €150 million or more, helping scale innovations that are critical to Europe’s competitiveness.
“For Dronamics, being nominated is both a recognition of our impact and a major opportunity to secure growth capital at a European level,” Rangelov reflects.
The funding will enable the company to finalise its Black Swan flight testing programme, expand manufacturing capabilities, and launch its first commercial flights.
“This investment strengthens Europe’s technological sovereignty, accelerates greener, faster logistics, and creates high-tech jobs, supporting both commercial and critical civil protection operations,” he confirms.
Looking to the future, Dronamics will continue to focus on maintaining its first-mover position in advanced air logistics.
The company’s number one goal is to achieve a successful commercial launch and expand its reach across key markets.
By leveraging partnerships with leaders like Kawasaki Motors, it continues to enhance technology, performance, and sustainability.
“Our vision is a world where cargo moves as efficiently and affordably as information, with the Black Swan platform at the centre of a new optimised logistics ecosystem,” Rangelov passionately concludes.
