Deutsche Aircraft Working On Multi-Role Support Drone

Deutsche Aircraft is working on a drone to extend the mission capabilities of its newly-announced multi-role version of the modernized D328 twin turboprop it is bringing to market. The plans for both its uncrewed platform and the D328MR unveiled during June 2026’s ILA Berlin show, where the OEM explained how this “integrated uncrewed aircraft capability” could be relevant in civil and governmental applications.

Speaking to AIN, Deutsche Aircraft CEO Nico Neumann explained that the company was currently focusing “a bit more on the multi-role path” under the direction of its U.S. owner Sierra Nevada Corporation. The D328MR—a planned multi-mission variant of the D328eco—has been designed to fulfil roles including maritime and border surveillance, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, disaster response, environmental monitoring, and search and rescue support. 

Extended range fuel tanks on the D328MR will also offer a range of just over 2,219 nm in an emergency medical configuration, surpassing the 40-passenger D328eco’s projected range of up to 1,205 nm). According to Neumann, the multi-use variant was partly inspired by Dutch special mission and maritime patrol provider EASP Air, which uses a legacy fleet of D328s. This operator says its setup – including a certified in-flight opening door and additional missionized setup – has helped save over 20,000 lives to date.

The first D328eco prototype was rolled out from the German OEM’s headquarters in Oberpfaffenhofen in May 2025. Deutsche Aircraft stated at the time it expected to make a first flight with the first prototype in 2026. Although no set date for this milestone has been given, the developer is currently continuing to finalise the setup of onboard systems before the first ground test. Neumann also confirmed that Deutsche Aircraft has “started on some campaigns of some components,” including the ground test elements of the aircraft’s landing gear.

Deutsche Aircraft Drone

"With the D328MR, complemented by uncrewed capabilities, [Deutsche Aircraft] is offering a portfolio that allows authorities to select the right platform,” Neumann stated. Specifically, the company is currently gauging market demand for its as-yet unnamed drone through “direct exchange with [potential] operators.”

The V-tailed drone has a wingspan of 5.76 meters (19 feet) and a length of 3.62 meters, a maximum takeoff weight of 110 kilograms (242 pounds), 26 kilograms of combined payload and fuel capacity, and a flight time of up to 16 hours. Deutsche Aircraft said this performance has already been validated through a flight test campaign.

“It seems like this size [of drone] has a market need, and we have received some positive indications for this size, range and payload capabilities,” explained Neumann. The decision to use a fossile-fuel-burning  Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127XT-S engine was, he added, based on requirements for payload, range, and charging structure availability.  

The drone could be used independently or flown alongside a ‘mothership’ D328MR aircraft, extending the view of the parent aircraft. In this adjacent role, a mission operator onboard the D328MR could instruct one or more drones to take a deeper look at certain sites, although it has not yet been flight tested alongside a crewed aircraft. However, “the capability gap needs to be described by the operator, and then we can design how we can best fulfil that gap with the tools we have,” Neumann explained.

After market analysis for the drone is completed, Deutsche Aircraft will then consider industrial set-up for production. Referencing the European Commission’s recent EU Aviation and Aeronautics Strategy—which stresses the need to “set out a comprehensive framework to strengthen Europe’s aviation and aeronautical at a time of heightened uncertainty"—Neumann believes the time is right for a product he thinks will heighten mission capability. “They speak about resilience, they speak about sovereignty, they speak about competitiveness, and these are the areas where we see Deutsche Aircraft in a nutshell,” he concluded.