Piasecki launches KARGO II with triple payload capacity for autonomous logistics

The production-ready KARGO II follows earlier KARGO UAV testing and has incorporated larger rotors, an optimised transmission and greater mission flexibility.

Piasecki Aircraft Corporation has introduced KARGO II, a larger-capacity version of its KARGO UAV medium-lift unmanned aerial vehicle, which it acquired from Kaman Air Vehicles in April 2025. The new model features significant payload, drivetrain and performance upgrades to support a range of military and commercial missions.

Designed for contested and remote environments, KARGO II retains the compact form of KARGO UAV while delivering 2–3 times the payload – from around 500–800 lbs (227–363 kg) to over 1,500 lbs (680 kg) – with improved range, airspeed and mission flexibility. It uses a new shaft-driven transmission and larger rotors to achieve this.

KARGO II follows successful flight testing of KARGO UAV under U.S. Army and Marine Corps contracts, including autonomous lift operations and advanced flight control integration.

“KARGO II reflects Piasecki’s commitment to rapidly advancing autonomous vertical lift capabilities,” says John Piasecki, CEO of Piasecki Aircraft Corporation. “With the launch of this first major development spiral, we've created a more capable, scalable solution for autonomous logistics, designed to meet the evolving requirements of defense and commercial customers alike.”

Commercial availability in domestic and international markets is planned for late 2027. Demand for KARGO UAV and KARGO II already exceeds 300 units across sectors such as energy, logistics and disaster response.

“KARGO II is a direct response to operator feedback, validated use cases and real-world mission needs,” adds Romin Dasmalchi, director of cargo UAS programmes at Piasecki.