20-foot flying ‘container’ robot drone could become future helicopter, cut costs by 90%

Airvolve, a Lithuanian startup, is developing the Airlift, a hybrid-electric aircraft to replace helicopters for military missions. The Airlift aims to be 10 times cheaper to operate than conventional helicopters, carrying up to 441 pounds of cargo with a 62-mile range. It features innovative horizontal-axis rotors and will be optionally piloted, offering potential cost savings and increased survivability for armed forces.