Bulgarian drone manufacturer Dronamics has entered into a strategic collaboration with Japanese engine and vehicle producer Kawasaki Motors, marking a pivotal moment in unmanned aviation technology.
The partnership focuses on the integration of Kawasaki’s newly developed aero-piston engines into the Black Swan cargo drone, a long-range civilian UAV capable of carrying up to 350 kilograms over distances of 2,500 kilometers. The announcement was confirmed by Dronamics in a statement to the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA).
The agreement brings together Kawasaki’s deep expertise in engine design and Dronamics’ growing reputation in UAV development. The two companies will cooperate across the full development cycle, including research, integration, flight testing, and validation, aiming to set new benchmarks in propulsion systems for unmanned aircraft.
Konstantin Rangelov, co-founder and CTO of Dronamics, emphasized the strategic value of the partnership. “This collaboration allows us not only to implement Kawasaki’s advanced aero-piston engines, but also to influence the future performance of aircraft,” Rangelov said. He added that Kawasaki’s selection of the Black Swan highlights the technological leadership Dronamics has built over the past decade.
The collaboration also strengthens Dronamics’ existing ties with Japan, since the Black Swan’s carbon fiber materials are already sourced from Japanese suppliers. This raises the possibility of producing an all-Japanese variant of the drone, tailored to serve the Japanese domestic market.
Such a model could play a vital role in civilian cargo transport, disaster relief operations, emergency supply deliveries, firefighting, and other civil protection missions. Hiroshi Tomomori, Managing Director of Kawasaki Motors, described the agreement as a milestone in aerospace innovation.
“By combining our long-standing engine development expertise with Dronamics’ pioneering drone technology, we aim to deliver propulsion systems that redefine performance and sustainability in both unmanned and traditional civil aviation,” he stated.
Kawasaki Motors, part of the wider Kawasaki Heavy Industries Group, is globally known for its motorcycles, but also has a rich heritage in aeronautical engineering.
By partnering with Dronamics, Kawasaki is leveraging the Bulgarian company’s experience in high-payload, long-distance UAVs to accelerate its next-generation propulsion systems, which may extend beyond drones to broader aerospace applications.
Dronamics stressed that the integration of Kawasaki’s engine technology will reinforce the Black Swan’s market-leading blend of range, payload, cost efficiency, and speed. The cooperation represents not only a step forward for the company but also an opportunity to push innovation in the rapidly evolving unmanned aviation sector.
With global demand for sustainable, efficient, and resilient cargo solutions growing, this partnership positions both companies at the forefront of future aviation.