MALLARD – New Generation Unmanned Cargo Transportation System (Cargo UAV).

The MALLARD project opens a new stage in the development of Polish air transportation technology. It is also a unique opportunity to participate with MBF Group S.A. in a venture with great commercial and export potential. We invite companies, industry partners and institutional and private investors to establish cooperation. There is an opportunity to participate in the project both technologically, operationally and financially – in a way that in the future could bring real profits through the commercialization of the MALLARD system in European and global markets.

MALLARD is a strategic project of the consortium MBF Group S.A. (leader), Squadron Sp. z o.o. (ASE Group) and the Polish Industrial Lobby, whose ambition is to create a complete ecosystem of unmanned freight transport in Poland. The project includes two complementary platforms: MALLARD-S, a lightweight last-mile UAV, and MALLARD-L, a heavy-lift drone designed for long-haul cargo transportation of up to 1 ton. Both versions are being developed as dual-use technologies that meet European U-Space requirements and can operate in civil, industrial and defense spaces.

Global context – how the cargo drone market is growing

The market for autonomous air transportation is growing at a pace never before seen in the aviation sector. The global cargo drone market is estimated to exceed $16-20 billion by 2030, with most analyses indicating annual growth of 20-35%. The largest segments are medical logistics, B2B urgent deliveries, spare parts transportation, energy, offshore, mining and defense.

The COVID-19 pandemic has rapidly accelerated the adoption of drones in medical transportation, and geopolitical events in recent years have shown that traditional supply chains are vulnerable to disruption, overload and lack of redundancy. This increases the need for platforms capable of operating autonomously, in a fast and infrastructure-proof manner. MALLARD is part of this trend, offering a system designed from the ground up for long-range operations, with a payload capacity unavailable to most current designs on the market.

Development of drone transportation – a new stage of logistics

Drone transportation is undergoing a transformation from demonstrators to viable commercial deployments. In many countries – including. in the US, France, Australia or Japan – cargo drones are already carrying out regular flights, delivering medicines, documents, medical samples, emergency equipment or courier shipments. U-Space is becoming the standard for traffic management in Europe, enabling BVLOS missions on a massive scale.

Modern cargo UAVs are beginning to replace helicopters in low and medium payload tasks. Compared to them, drones are many times cheaper to operate, greener, quieter and easier to use. This makes their mass deployments not only possible, but even economically viable. MALLARD has the potential to become one of the key solutions for a new class of heavy-lift drones in Europe.

Division of the system – two complementary UAVs

The MALLARD project includes two platforms with a common architecture but different purposes. Together, they form a cohesive transportation system that can handle both urban logistics and long-distance cargo missions requiring long range and high capacity.

MALLARD-S – Lightweight transport drone (Small Cargo UAV)

Operational range: up to 2,500 km
Lifting capacity: 300 kg

The MALLARD-S is a lightweight and economical platform designed for last-mile tasks and specialized transportation. The system enables high-speed deliveries in the medical, logistics and industrial sectors, providing autonomous route handling – from takeoff, overflight, to landing and replacing cargo modules.
The S version is designed for critical supplies such as blood, drugs, organs, documents, spare parts or emergency equipment. With its expanded coverage, the platform can carry out inter-regional missions and support logistics where time and independence from ground infrastructure are critical.

Its design allows it to operate in urban, mountainous and hard-to-reach terrain. MALLARD-S enables the construction of high-speed air transportation networks for industry, hospitals, airports, refineries, mines, wind farms, logistics centers and emergency units.

MALLARD-L – Large Cargo UAV (heavy transport drone).

Planned range: up to 3,000 km
Planned capacity: 1000 kg

MALLARD-L is a breakthrough design being developed as a platform with a payload capacity of up to 1 ton and an intercontinental range in transit variant. The system is expected to take over some of the tasks performed today by transport helicopters and military trucks, providing dramatically lower mission costs and greater operational flexibility.

The MALLARD-L concept involves vertical takeoff or short run-up, allowing the UAV to operate from field strips, improvised zones, offshore platforms or ship decks. The modular cargo cabin will allow the transportation of industrial pallets, medical containers, machine parts, fuel, food and field equipment. Redundant control systems and an optional hybrid drive will provide high fault tolerance and increased autonomy.

Applications in the civilian sector

The MALLARD-S and MALLARD-L systems open up new opportunities in the civilian sector, providing solutions capable of performing missions with high operational and logistical value. With its mobility and range, the MALLARD-S is ideal for medical transport – delivering blood, drugs, organs, biological materials and time-critical equipment. In industrial areas, it enables rapid delivery of spare parts, tools and documentation, reducing production downtime and increasing plant efficiency. The system can be used to monitor power and transmission infrastructure, transport components to wind farms and offshore installations, and in mining operations where traditional transportation is often slow or risky.

The MALLARD-L, on the other hand, with its payload capacity of up to 1,000 kilograms and a range of up to 3,000 kilometers, is an alternative to helicopter and truck transport in tasks that require a high degree of flexibility and resistance to off-road conditions. It is ideal for supplying fuel, components and equipment to refineries, LNG terminals, offshore platforms or remote industrial plants. In large-scale e-commerce projects, both systems make it possible to move goods quickly between distribution centers, as well as to transport high-value or bulky shipments that standard commercial drones cannot handle. With the ability to operate beyond the reach of the road infrastructure, MALLARD helps ensure continuity of supply even during emergencies, natural disasters or supply chain disruptions.

Applications in the defense and security sector

In the defense sector, the MALLARD-S and MALLARD-L systems bring a whole new quality to autonomous battlefield logistics. The lighter MALLARD-S platform allows rapid delivery of ammunition, spare parts, electronic components, medical supplies, food and equipment items without the need for crews and vehicles exposed to shelling or mined terrain. With the ability to operate in danger zones without the need for prepared infrastructure, the drone can reach places where traditional transportation is too risky or impossible. In MEDEVAC missions, the MALLARD-S UAV can carry medical modules that allow the evacuation of medical supplies, medications or surgical equipment in situations where response time is life-defining.

The heavier MALLARD-L platform, on the other hand, opens up possibilities previously reserved only for transport helicopters, but with much lower operating costs and less risk. With a payload capacity of up to 1,000 kg and an intercontinental range, the MALLARD-L can supply field bases, transfer armaments, fuel, mortar grenades, ammunition boxes, elements of artillery systems and mobile technical equipment. The system also provides logistical continuity for NATO allied forces in areas with limited infrastructure and can support special operations requiring discrete, autonomous transport. With its resilience and redundant control systems, MALLARD is becoming an essential component of the “resilient logistics” strategy, strengthening the Army’s ability to operate under conditions of disruption, hybrid conflict and a dynamically changing operational environment.

The economic logic of the system

Rising fuel costs, driver shortages, road congestion, regulatory changes, the need for redundancy in supply chains, and low mission cost make cargo drones the logical successor to helicopters in light and medium cargo transportation. UAV operation in autonomous mode reduces operating costs by up to 60-80% relative to small helicopters, making investment in systems such as MALLARD cost-effective for both industry and government.

Integration with IRYDA Plus and ARES projects

MALLARD is one of the consortium’s three main projects, along with IRYDA Plus (C-UAS) and ARES (trainer). The systems are designed to operate under a single technology and information architecture. IRYDA provides escort, reconnaissance and threat neutralization, MALLARD provides transportation, and ARES provides training and scenario analysis. Together they form a complete next-generation defense-logistics ecosystem.

Project status – MALLARD-S prototype ready for flight testing

Work on the MALLARD system is entering a crucial phase, as a prototype of the small MALLARD-S is already completed and being prepared for the first test flights. Ground tests will begin in the coming weeks, followed by preliminary flights to verify performance, structural stability and autonomous takeoff and landing procedures. MBF Group will keep you updated on the stages of the program by publishing photos, recordings and test reports. This is an important moment for the entire project – entering the flight phase confirms that Polish engineering thought is capable of creating world-class UAV systems. MALLARD-S is already attracting strong interest from industrial and institutional partners, and early positive feedback on its performance quality and operational potential indicates that the project could become one of the most promising cargo UAV programs in Europe.

Summary and invitation to cooperation

MALLARD is one of the most advanced unmanned transport projects being developed in Europe. The system allows missions with a range of several hundred to three thousand kilometers, with a payload of 300 to 1,000 kg. It can serve in civil, industrial, medical, humanitarian and defense transportation.

We invite companies, institutions and investors interested in cooperation, technology supply, cargo module development or financial participation in the project. MBF Group S.A. opens up opportunities for capital, integration and operational involvement. This is a unique opportunity to participate in the construction of Poland’s next-generation cargo UAV system.