UPS and airline partner FedEx have agreed to buy 20 unmanned cargo planes for $134 million.

amerilight, cargo airline which partners with transportation giants UPS, FedEx and DHL, has announced a $134 million deal to buy 20 autonomous aircraft from Natilus as part of its drive to build “the air cargo network of the future.”

feeder service company based in Dallas, said in a statement that the new aircraft “will help modernize Ameriflight’s fleet and enable it to offer a high quality and differentiated product in a part of the industry experiencing exponential growth.”

“Natilus technology is at the forefront of autonomous innovation and delivers lower cost of ownership while remaining well-suited to customers in our industry,” said Alan Rusinowitz, President and COO of Ameriflight.

Ameriflight says: “The Natilus fleet of mixed-wing carbon fiber cargo aircraft delivers a 60% reduction in operating costs and a halving of carbon emissions.

“The Natilus Kona that Ameriflight is eyeing has a payload of 3.8 tons. short-haul feeder unmanned aerial vehicle”, he added. “It will be used to support the company’s expanded business capabilities, primarily for Ameriflight’s accelerated supply chain services.”

The San Diego-based Natilus deal is valued at $134 million, according to Freightwaves.

Natilus co-founder and CEO Alexei Matyushev also told the news site that the company plans to begin flight testing the Kona at the end of next year, with deliveries to customers by 2026.

Ameriflight states that it has “grown from a small charter and cargo carrier to an international operator with 14 bases, 1,500 weekly departures and 200 destinations” with “over 500 employees, including over 150 pilots and over 100 aircraft.”

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