Piasecki Aircraft Corp. (PiAC) is adding a new dimension to its vertical flight portfolio.
The Pennsylvania-based company on Tuesday announced the acquisition of Kaman Air Vehicles’ autonomous Kargo UAV—a medium-lift uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) designed for military and commercial cargo logistics—and the intellectual property, assets, and personnel related to the program. Its goal is to field a production-ready vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) vehicle by 2026. PiAC will also pursue FAA certification to expand the market for the aircraft.
The transaction includes two full-scale Kargo UAV prototypes—one that first flew in December 2023 and another under construction. PiAC intends to relocate all research and development for the design to its heliplex in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, which it acquired from Sikorsky in 2023 as a hub for testing new technologies.
John Piasecki, president and CEO of PiAC, described the Kargo UAV as a “natural extension” of the company’s other vertical lift projects. It anticipates demand for more than 300 aircraft.
“We see a growing need for autonomous, expeditionary logistics solutions, not just for the U.S. military but also for a wide range of commercial operations,” Piasecki told FLYING. “Kargo UAV fits perfectly into that vision: It’s a versatile, scalable platform that complements our existing portfolio.”
PiAC boasts a rich history in developing vertical flight technology, dating back to 1943 when founder Frank Piasecki became the second American to successfully fly a helicopter of his own design. It continues to push the boundaries of VTOL technology with projects like the PA-890, a crewed, hydrogen-powered model, and the Aerial Reconfigurable Embedded System (ARES), a tilt-duct, heavy-lift design.
ARES in particular has garnered significant military interest. In November 2023, the U.S. Air Force awarded PiAC a $37 million contract to further develop it as a Swiss Army knife for defense applications. The month prior, PiAC was selected, along with Kaman and partner Near Earth Autonomy, for the U.S. Army’s heavy-lift vertical takeoff and landing (HVTOL) program.
The military has already gotten its hands on the Kargo UAV, too. Kaman began to develop the self-flying model in 2021 as a potential tool for the U.S. Marine Corps. In 2023, it secured an initial $12 million award from the Marine Corps’ Medium Aerial Resupply Vehicle-Expeditionary Logistics (MARV-EL) program—a contract PiAC will inherit. Demonstrations have already been conducted for the Marine Corps and Army, PiAC said.
The manufacturer is targeting a production-ready Kargo UAV with a maximum payload of 1,400 pounds, top speed of 100 knots, and range of 1,100 nm at 65 knots. Its current engine is certified for altitudes up to 10,000 feet.
PiAC envisions the Kargo UAV wearing many different hats. The military could deploy it to deliver equipment, weapons, and medical supplies from land to sea, ship to ship, or even into combat zones. It could further support casualty evacuation and covert operations. But there is just as much potential on the commercial side, John Piasecki said.
“We see tremendous commercial opportunity, even though our typical approach has been military-first,” Piasecki said. “Critical sectors like offshore energy, mining, humanitarian aid, and disaster relief all face logistics challenges that Kargo UAV is uniquely positioned to solve—especially in areas where helicopter operations are costly, dangerous, or impractical.”
Other commercial use cases might include search and rescue, rural delivery, aerial crop surveys, and support for law enforcement or firefighters.
Piasecki is bullish on the Kargo UAV’s potential. But PiAC’s other projects aren’t going anywhere, he said. It will continue to develop ARES for heavy-lift operations, the PA-890 for crewed urban and regional mobility, and the tandem ducted fan Air Scout for small ground combat units.
“Kargo UAV, by contrast, focuses on medium-lift unmanned logistics—initially defense-oriented, but with strong commercial potential,” Piasecki said. “These efforts are highly complementary: They allow us to diversify across mission sets, customer bases, and technology development paths while reinforcing our core expertise.”
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