The U.S. Air Force has awarded Tennessee-based Minco Technologies a $13.6 million contract to develop and demonstrate a next-generation drone engine engineered for major fuel efficiency improvements.
The system — officially titled the Modular Operationally Resilient Fuel-Flexible Extreme-Efficiency UAS-Engine System — aims to reduce drone fuel logistics demands by up to 50 percent, according to a Pentagon announcement.
Development and testing will be carried out in Cookeville, Tennessee, with completion targeted for August 30, 2028.
Boosting Operational Resilience
Although specific design details have not been disclosed, the project focuses on enhancing endurance, survivability, and fuel flexibility in contested operational environments. The ability to run on multiple fuel types is expected to bolster logistics resilience, enabling unmanned systems to operate farther from established supply hubs and sustain missions longer.
Parallel Efforts in NATO
In a related development, five NATO member states have ordered a hybrid power system to improve the energy efficiency of their Patriot air defense batteries. Developed by Germany’s VINCORION, the new system is expected to reduce daily refueling needs threefold per battalion, cutting resupply runs and exposure to potential attacks.
