Orbital Corporation Adds MightyFly as Autonomous Cargo Customer

Orbital Corporation (ASX: OEC) has received an order from US autonomous cargo aircraft developer MightyFly for three heavy fuel engine propulsion systems, extending its commercial customer base into middle-mile logistics.

Two engines will support flight testing and a third will be used for ground-based development and validation, with delivery scheduled for September 2026.

The order gives MightyFly a pathway through its next aircraft development phase towards potential production as it advances a platform designed to move high-value, time-critical freight.

It follows Orbital’s successful first flight with American Aerospace Technologies Inc. (AATI) and a follow-on order that lifted the separate AiRanger program to eight propulsion systems.

Autonomous Cargo Aircraft

MightyFly is developing autonomous hybrid cargo aircraft for commercial, government, and defence applications spanning distribution centres, hospitals, manufacturing facilities, military bases, and remote locations.

The San Francisco Bay Area business has completed more than 400 autonomous flights, and announced commercial agreements and a letter of intent exceeding US$270 million.

MightyFly also demonstrated its autonomous cargo aircraft for the US Air Force in 2025, showing potential use across commercial and defence logistics.

“This order is an important first step in what we expect will become a broader commercial relationship,” chief executive officer Stephen Pearce said.

“In our experience, commercial autonomous aviation programs can move from development to production more quickly than traditional defence procurement programs, which is part of what makes this an attractive growth market for Orbital "

AATI Flight Milestone

Orbital’s 150HFE propulsion system successfully completed its first flight aboard AATI’s AiRanger unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), validating the engine’s integration and advancing the customer’s testing and fleet expansion program.

AATI subsequently ordered three additional systems, taking cumulative orders to eight engines and the value of propulsion systems and engineering integration services to more than US$750,000.

Orbital has scheduled three further systems for shipment to support continued flight testing by AATI, which holds commercial Beyond Visual Line of Sight operating approvals in the US.

AATI is also pursuing US government opportunities centred on long-endurance intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions in demanding operating environments.

Recurring Revenue Strategy

Orbital is targeting customers capable of moving from development programs into meaningful operating fleets, creating potential for follow-on hardware sales as aircraft platforms progress towards deployment.

The company sees AATI as a possible candidate for its Power by the Hour model, which generates recurring revenue from maintenance, overhaul, replacement, and performance support based on engine operating hours.

MightyFly adds another commercial pathway alongside that service-led opportunity, with successful development expected to support a later aircraft production stage and possible additional propulsion orders.

Orbital’s HFE technology has accumulated more than 1.2 million in-field service hours, while its production range spans 50cc to 350cc engines for Group 2 and Group 3 UAV applications.