LODD Hili (prototype)
(Photo credit: LODD)
Hili (prototype)
LODD
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emerits
www.lodd.com
Founded in 2023, LODD is headquarted in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emerits and is in the business of designing and manufacturing air cargo hybrid-electric vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft for advanced air mobility (AAM).
Hili autonomous air cargo hybrid-electric VTOL drone (prototype)
The Hili is an autonomous air cargo hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft. The air cargo drone has no pilot and carries no passengers. The drone has the capacity to hold two Euro pallets. The aircraft has been designed to fly through challenging weather conditions and environments, to enable safe and on-time delivery of cargo to its customers. The first test flight of the prototype drone took place on November 13, 2025.
The cruise speed of the aircraft is 185 km/h (115 mph), has a maximum speed of 222 km/h (138 mph), has a range of 700 km (435 m) and has a maximum cruise altitude of 4,267 m (14,000 ft). The drone has nine propellers (eight VTOL-only propellers and one pusher propeller), has nine electric motors and has a hybrid-electric power source. The empty weight of the aircraft is 1,161 kg (2,560 lb), has a maximum payload weight of 250 kg (550 lb) and has a maximum takeoff weight of 1,411 kg (3,111 lb). The drone has one high main wing and has one inverted U tail. The fuselage is made from carbon fiber composite to give the aircraft a high strength to low weight ratio. The aircraft has fixed tricycle wheeled landing gear.
Specifications:
- Aircraft type: Uncrewed air cargo hybrid-electric VTOL drone (production model)
- Piloting: Autonomous piloting
- Capacity: Air cargo. Holds 2 Euro pallets.
- Cruise speed: 185 km/h (115 mph)
- Maximum speed: 222 km/h (138 mph)
- Range: 700 km (435 m)
- Maximum cruise altitude: 4,267 m (14,000 ft)
- Empty weight: 1,161 kg (2,560 lb)
- Maximum payload weight: 250 kg (550 lb)
- Maximum takeoff weight: 1,411 kg (3,111 lb)
- Propellers: 9 propellers (8 VTOL-only propellers, 1 pusher propeller)
- Electric motors: 9 electric motors
- Power source: Hybrid-electric power source
- Fuselage: Carbon fiber composite
- Wings: 1 high main wing with four booms under the wing for the 8 VTOL-only propellers
- Tail: 1 inverted U tail
- Landing gear: Fixed tricycle wheeled landing gear
- Safety features: Distributed Electric Propulsion (DEP) uses multiple propellers or electric ducted fans, each powered by electric motors, to increase safety through redundancy. If one or more components fail, the remaining ones can still ensure a safe landing. There are also redundancies of critical components in the sub-systems of the aircraft providing safety through redundancy. Having multiple redundant systems on any aircraft decreases having any single point of failure.
Company Insights:
Resources:
- LODD website
- LODD YouTube Channel
- LODD Instagram
- LODD LinkedIn
- Article: Lodd Autonomous: Hili heavy-lift cargo drone completes first test flight in Abu Dhabi, Vertical Magazine, Nov. 14, 2025
- Article: UAE Hili secures 200 orders for Abu Dhabi drone sector, Aviation Business Me, Jan. 21, 2026
- Article: Ambitious Air Mobility Group and LODD Autonomous confirm order for up to 50 hybrid cargo aircraft, Stay Ambitious, Feb. 26, 2026
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