UK tests FC100 drone’s heavy-lift capabilities

Key Points
  • Flowcopter completed a week of Project MORRIGHAN testing, flying the FC100 drone with underslung and hard-coupled cargo systems for logistics and CASEVAC.
  • The company said the trials included a payload delivery that “apparently” set a UK Ministry of Defence record for a single UAV logistics mission.

Flowcopter announced Tuesday that it has completed a full week of flight testing under Project MORRIGHAN, a jHubMed initiative focused on uncrewed logistics support and casualty evacuation capabilities for the United Kingdom’s defense community.

According to the company, the tests marked an important milestone in demonstrating the FC100 heavy-lift drone’s operational potential.

In a statement released by Flowcopter, the company said: “Flowcopter have just successfully wrapped up their flight week for Project MORRIGHAN, a jHubMed Initiative. During the week, our FC100 drone flew various prototype cargo systems, both underslung and hard-coupled for logistics resupply and CASEVAC. Apparently setting a UK MoD record for a single UAV logistics payload delivery.” Flowcopter added: “Get in touch if you are looking for a heavy lift UAV.”

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The announcement follows the company’s continued development of large uncrewed aerial systems designed to function in roles traditionally requiring helicopters.

Flowcopter describes the FC100 as a platform built “out of the need for robust, heavy payload uncrewed platforms with greater endurance,” intended for missions such as search-and-rescue logistics and humanitarian support. The company says the aircraft has already attracted interest from customers across multiple sectors, including offshore wind operations, agriculture and urban air mobility.

According to information published by the company, the FC100 is designed to carry 100 kilograms of cargo on a 200-kilometer round trip, providing extended endurance with lighter loads and offering lift capacity of up to 150 kilograms for shorter missions. Flowcopter says the aircraft is intended to support multi-application demand for uncrewed systems capable of replacing some helicopter roles while offering lower operating costs and simpler deployment.

As noted by the company, the FC100 differs from traditional ISR-focused unmanned aircraft by offering utility functions associated with medium-lift aviation. Flowcopter describes the system as “a genuine game changer in UAV utility,” pointing to its ability to handle heavier cargo and conduct logistics missions that require endurance and lifting power beyond smaller drone platforms.

Flowcopter says the drone’s design provides a lighter and more robust option compared to existing crewed and uncrewed transport solutions. The company argues that the FC100 can reduce reliance on helicopters at the lower end of lift requirements and ferry transport at the upper end, while “opening up new possibilities in logistics scheduling.” According to the company’s description, the FC100 aims to support new concepts for what it calls the “Delivery Experience,” enabling cargo movement in environments where conventional aircraft are expensive or impractical.

FC100 heavy-lift drones (Flowcopter pic)

Project MORRIGHAN’s flight week aimed to test the drone in several mission configurations, including both underslung loads and direct hard-coupled cargo modules. The company said the trial scenarios were intended to support defense medical and logistics planning, particularly for casualty evacuation in remote or contested environments. The reported record-setting payload delivery during the tests underscores ongoing interest within the UK Ministry of Defence in uncrewed logistics systems capable of reducing risk to personnel.

The test images show the FC100 in multiple configurations, with heavy-lift frames arranged at a flight line and an aircraft carrying an underslung load during open-terrain testing. The system uses a multi-rotor architecture designed to support distributed lift and stability under heavy payloads.

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