Hybrid Drones completes first HYDRA-400 flight test

British engineers have successfully flown the HYDRA-400, a heavy-lift drone for the first time. Designed for varied logistics and rescue roles with a 400 kg payload, the development touches on the relatively unexplored role drones can play in moving goods and people.

By Sam Cranny-Evans, published on February 6, 2026.

Hybrid Drones Limited has confirmed the first successful flight of its HYDRA-400 vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drone in a February 5 press release. The test took place in the UK following a series of ground runs. During the flight, the drone carried a medical stretcher to prove it can perform casualty evacuations and humanitarian tasks.

HYDRA-400 is thought to be one of the first drones utilising a mixture of jet and electrical power to provide lift and thrust. Because of that, the tests do mark something of a watershed for the drone industry.  There is the JetQuad, which appears to be entirely jet-powered, and many others use hybrid setups with conventional internal combustion engines.

The project has reached this stage after six years of work. The company spent £1.1 million ($1.43 million/€1.33 million) to develop the third-generation aircraft. This funding helped the team refine the mechanical and electrical systems and get to the first flight test.

MBDA became an investor in 2025, becoming a shareholder and both companies agreed to work together on the HYDRA-400’s continued development. Hybrid Drones is now looking for new investment. They want to raise £4 million ($5.2 million/€4.85 million) to finish the research phase. This money will help the company start mass production. Future roles for the drone could include firefighting, cargo delivery, and battlefield resupply, the company states in its press release.

• MBDA invests in the UK’s Hydra Drones – Calibre Defence 
• Hivemind: ST Engineering and Shield AI partner on autonomous flight – Calibre Defence 
• Anavia wins HT-750 uncrewed helicopter contract from UAE MoD – Calibre Defence 

A number of companies are exploring the role of drones in cargo and logistics. ST Engineering recently partnered with LODD Autonomous on a series of trials that will test medium lift (100 kg – 250 kg) cargo delivery in the UAE. And the Swiss company ANAVIA, has won a large contract for its HT-750, a helicopter-type drone capable of lifting 750 kg. 

Tech profile: Hydra-400

The HYDRA-400 features a hybrid power-pack of electric rotors and single-spool jet turbines. Each jet engine provides 50 kg of thrust. Hybrid Drones states that the six-jet variant provides 400 kg of total lift. Operators can configure the drone with electric motors alone or add up to six jet engines. This setup provides 25 minutes of endurance. Lighter payloads presumably increase this flight time.

The aircraft uses the L3Harris Gnat stores release system. This allows it to carry casualty pods, supplies, or weapons. Crew can transport the drone in a flatbed truck and assemble it in minutes. Managing director Tom O’Connor described the platform as “semi-attritable” to the Telegraph. He noted the aircraft will not “cost crazy money.” This hybrid system keeps the drone relatively small despite the heavy payload.

Operators can transport the drone in a flatbed truck and the engineering team stated that the platform can be ready for flight in a few minutes.

Calibre comment: Drones for logistics

Military forces already deploy drones for logistics roles in Ukraine and various international trials. Specifically, delivering water and ammunition to frontline positions often proves incredibly dangerous and time-consuming. Consequently, this mission set represents the ideal application for uncrewed systems. However, most current platforms focus on relatively light payloads, and recovery teams have only used uncrewed ground vehicles to evacuate personnel thus far.

Furthermore, if heavy-lift drones become viable, they will unlock significant untapped potential in logistics. For instance, these aircraft could move people and equipment to and from the frontline with ease. By doing so, they would reduce the strain on expensive helicopters and lower the risk to ground vehicle convoys.

Lockheed Martin is working on an uncrewed Black Hawk, the S-70UAS U-Hawk, for this very purpose. It looks awesome, and you can read about it here: Sikorsky unveils S-70UAS U-Hawk – an autonomous Black Hawk – Calibre Defence

The lead image shows the HYDRA-400 drone on the ground from an earlier run of ground tests. Credit: Hybrid Drones.