Minco Technologies, a Tennessee-based company, has secured a $13.6 million U.S. Air Force contract to design and demonstrate a fuel-efficient next-generation unmanned aerial system (UAS) engine.
The program, known as the Modular Operationally Resilient Fuel-Flexible Extreme-Efficiency UAS-Engine System, seeks to halve fuel supply requirements for drones, according to a recent Pentagon notice.
Work on the effort will take place in Cookeville, Tennessee, with project completion expected by August 2028.
Enhancing Endurance and Flexibility
While technical specifics remain under wraps, the initiative is focused on advancing operational endurance and fuel adaptability for drones in challenging or denied environments. The multi-fuel capability is designed to enhance logistical independence, allowing U.S. forces to deploy unmanned assets from more remote locations and sustain them over extended missions.
Comparable Initiative Abroad
Separately, five NATO nations have procured a next-generation hybrid energy system for Patriot missile units to improve power reliability and reduce fuel dependency. Supplied by Germany’s VINCORION, the technology is projected to cut daily refueling by threefold per battalion, improving both efficiency and troop safety during operations.
