Skyways Autonomous Drone Cuts Offshore Wind Supply Time from 2 Hours to 26 Minutes

Skyways has successfully completed the world’s first repeated autonomous cargo drone deliveries directly to offshore wind turbines, proving that long-range unmanned aircraft can handle the harsh conditions and precision requirements of real-world renewable energy operations.

In partnership with German energy operator RWE and BVLOS specialist Skyports Drone Services, the Austin-based autonomous aircraft manufacturer demonstrated a three-week series of flights to the Arkona Offshore Windfarm in the Baltic Sea, located 35 kilometers (21.7 miles) northeast of the German island of Rügen. The achievement represents a major inflection point for autonomous cargo logistics in one of the world’s most demanding operating environments.

The trial validates what the drone industry has long promised: that autonomous systems can solve real operational bottlenecks where traditional logistics prove too slow, too expensive, or simply impractical.

Autonomous Flights Prove Long-Range Cargo Delivery in Offshore Conditions

The Skyways V2 aircraft flew automated round trips of 50 miles (80.5 kilometers) from RWE’s Mukran Port operations base to turbines at Arkona, operating completely beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) with no human pilot controlling the aircraft in real time. The flights occurred in sustained wind speeds up to 29.7 knots, demonstrating the aircraft’s capability in genuinely harsh marine conditions.

Each flight carried payloads up to 22 pounds (10 kilograms) and performed automated cargo drops directly to wind turbine nacelles—the engine compartment at the top of each 200-foot tower. Over the three-week trial, the aircraft accumulated over 2,500 kilometers (1,553 miles) of flight time and logged more than 65 hours aloft, validating both the reliability and repeatability of the system.

Slashing Delivery Times Transforms Offshore Maintenance Economics

The operational advantage is striking. Traditional crew transfer vessels typically require at least one hour for deliveries from Mukran Port to Arkona, with the drones completing the journey in under 30 minutes and capable of being booked on demand.

This speed advantage carries substantial implications. Offshore wind maintenance relies heavily on crew transfer vessels (CTVs)—specialized fast catamarans that operate on fixed schedules and cost thousands of dollars per day to charter. Technicians often wait for scheduled boat runs, creating maintenance delays that directly translate to lost power generation revenue. Autonomous drones running on-demand eliminate this constraint entirely.

“This successful effort with our partners at Skyports and RWE once again proves our aircraft can provide offshore operators with a level of service no other delivery option can match,” said Charles Acknin, CEO of Skyways. “Whether it’s a time-critical part, medical supplies, or urgent cargo in hard-to-reach and harsh environments, Skyways can get it there.”

Building on Proven Military-Grade Autonomy

The trial builds on Skyways’ growing track record with demanding operations. The company secured a $37 million U.S. Air Force contract in June 2025 to scale production of its V3 aircraft, which features even greater range and payload capacity than the V2 used at Arkona. The dual-hybrid design—combining electric motors for vertical takeoff and landing with a heavy-fuel engine for extended cruise—enables range approaching 500 miles on the V2 and over 1,000 miles on the V3.

The Arkona trial represents one phase of RWE’s broader offshore drone initiative, which has completed over 80 successful cargo flights across multiple trial series conducted in 2024 and 2025. Earlier trials tested shorter-range electric drones for substation deliveries and ship-to-turbine transfers. This latest achievement proves the long-range autonomous model works at commercial scale.

DroneXL’s Take

This is the moment when drone-based logistics shift from impressive demos to operational infrastructure. Skyways’ partnership with RWE—one of Europe’s largest energy operators—carries weight precisely because RWE doesn’t run experimental tech showcases. They run power plants. The fact that they’re planning to scale these operations across their global offshore wind portfolio signals real confidence in the technology’s maturity.

What makes this trial particularly significant for the professional drone industry is the regulatory precedent. BVLOS operations over water at scale remain rare globally. Germany’s approval of these flights suggests a clear regulatory pathway for other operators in Europe and beyond. This opens doors not just for other wind operators but for broader offshore logistics—oil and gas platforms, research vessels, maritime resupply chains.

The competitive implications are equally worth watching. While Ørsted runs the larger drone delivery program by sheer flight count, Skyways’ long-range autonomous approach solves different logistics challenges and operates from shore-based infrastructure rather than offshore vessels. There’s room in this market for multiple technology approaches, which suggests healthy industry maturation.

The real question now: How quickly does RWE scale this from pilot to routine operations, and which other offshore energy operators follow? That timeline will define whether autonomous cargo drones become standard offshore infrastructure or remain a specialized tool.

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