Singapore’s ST Engineering and Air Inc. Introduce DrN-600, a Large Electric Cargo Drone

At the Singapore Airshow preview, ST Engineering and US firm Air Inc. presented the DrN-600, their largest unmanned cargo craft to date and a deliberate push into commercial logistics. The platform blends vertical-lift rotors with a slender wing and twin tails to transition into efficient forward flight, prioritizing range and cruise efficiency over short-hop rotor-only designs. With a roughly eight-metre wingspan and a maximum take-off weight around 600 kilograms, the aircraft is sized to bridge the gap between small delivery drones and manned light cargo aircraft. Its front-access cargo bay accepts standardized pallet loads and is rated for about 100 kilograms, a configuration aimed at rapid loading and predictable ground handling. The DrN-600 runs on lithium-based batteries and is reported to achieve roughly 70 to 100 kilometres per sortie, positioning it for last-mile runs to islands, mountain communities, and other places where road or sea links are slow or costly. Development was a joint effort with Air Inc., combining ST Engineering’s unmanned systems experience with the US partner’s electric-aircraft know-how. Operational testing is planned to begin in the second quarter of 2026, with commercial services slated for 2028 pending airworthiness approvals and local regulatory acceptance. Technically the design prioritizes payload handling and operational cadence — areas that logistics operators care about when evaluating return on investment — but the aircraft’s limited payload and range will confine it to short regional missions rather than long-haul freight. Certification, airspace integration, and weather-resilient operations remain the primary non-technical hurdles before the platform can scale. For operators serving dispersed or infrastructure-poor markets, the DrN-600 offers a step toward electrified point-to-point cargo lifts that can replace or supplement boats, helicopters, and slow road links. The program signals that industry players are moving beyond trials to purpose-built commercial airframes, but timing and economics will depend on battery improvements, regulatory speed, and logistics partnerships that convert capability into steady revenue. In short, the DrN-600 is a credible, market-focused aircraft that narrows a capability gap — yet it will need a supportive certification and commercial ecosystem to realize its intended impact.