LODD Achieves Milestone with First Flight of Hili, UAE's Heavy Cargo Drone

The First Flight of Hili: Turning Vision into Reality

On November 3, 2025, a significant milestone in aviation occurred as LODD Autonomous successfully conducted the inaugural flight of Hili. This innovative aircraft is the first hybrid heavy cargo drone in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), uniquely designed, constructed, and tested within the country. This remarkable achievement took place during the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week at the Emirates Falcon Aviation test facilities located in Al Ain, illustrating the UAE's commitment to advancing autonomous aviation and next-generation freight logistics.

A New Era in Aviation

The successful flight of Hili marks a major technical and operational victory for LODD Autonomous. It emphasizes the UAE's growing capabilities in aerospace design and manufacturing. Developed under an intensive program focused on safety, the Hili drone achieved its flight readiness in record time. It epitomizes the UAE's ability to rapidly turn innovative concepts into tangible realities without compromising safety standards while adhering to strict performance and quality benchmarks.

With a payload capacity of 250 kilograms and a maximum range of 700 kilometers, Hili combines hybrid-electric propulsion and a modular design to guarantee safe, efficient, and sustainable freight operations across regional and international logistics networks. This success showcases the international confidence in the UAE's innovation ecosystem, which is built on a strong foundation of global and national partnerships.

Key Partnerships for Future Growth

Just before the inaugural flight, on November 3, LODD entered into a memorandum of understanding with Etihad Cargo, the national airline’s cargo division, making it the first user of an aircraft designed in Abu Dhabi. On November 10, during the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Summit, LODD also signed a collaborative agreement with EMX, aided by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), to integrate drone logistics into smart next-generation supply chain operations.

Part of the inaugural flight ceremony involved signing an agreement with Skyports Drone Services, a global leader in drone operations. They view Hili as a vital asset for enhancing their heavy cargo delivery capabilities over long distances. Additionally, LODD formalized an agreement with ST Engineering, one of the world's largest aerospace companies, to introduce Hili to key markets in the Asia-Pacific region.

Visionary Leadership for Growth and Innovation

Rashid Al Manai, the CEO of LODD Autonomous, highlighted that Hili's first flight represents a pivotal moment for both LODD and the advanced aviation industry in Abu Dhabi. He stressed that the aircraft's development reflects the strength of the nation's engineering talent. According to Al Manai, the design, construction, and testing of Hili entirely in the UAE illustrate the country's commitment to fostering an innovation-friendly environment.

He expressed gratitude to the UAE's leaders for their ongoing support of autonomous and advanced technologies, which enabled the local manufacture and testing of Hili to serve global markets. This achievement demonstrates the UAE's capability to produce local technologies that have a significant global impact, reinforcing the nation's position as a hub for advanced air mobility and next-generation logistics.

Conclusion

Through these successful developments, LODD Autonomous is solidifying its role as a national champion in the field of advanced air mobility, aligning with the UAE's ambition to become a global leader in autonomous systems, sustainable logistics, and future-ready aviation technologies. Founded in 2023, LODD focuses on creating innovative solutions that tackle emerging logistics challenges, with Hili serving as its flagship product designed for versatile freight operations.

Visit www.lodd.com to learn more about their revolutionary initiatives. Embark on a journey to discover how LODD is redefining logistics in the UAE and beyond.