Natilus N3.8T

Unmanned Autonomous Commercial Cargo Transport

United States | 2025

"The unmanned, autonomous Natilus N3.8T and its related air vehicles are set to revolutionize the forward freight air market."

Image from official Natilus marketing materials.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 03/17/2022 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

San Diego-based start-up Natilus is envisioning a global freight forward revolution with its incoming family of unmanned autonomous cargo haulers. The group is led by the prop-driven, short-to-medium-ranged N3.8T which involves a family of air vehicles set to include the longer-ranged, jet-powered N.60T, the N.100T, and the N.130T, the collection covering domestic routes out to intercontinental voyages. The program goal is to provide the evolving aerial freight market with unmanned aircraft capable of greater payloads and operating ranges than what is currently seen with traditional airliners.

A first-flight for the N3.8T prototype is planned for some time in 2023.

The aircraft will be developed with existing logistics infrastructure in mind. A Ground Control Station (GCS) will allow a single operator to control up to three of these aircraft for maximum efficiency with software used to reduce overall operator workloads. The user's station will be connected via cloud to communicating through SATellite COMmunications (SATCOM) to the air vehicles proper, resulting in reduced reliance on traditional pilots in the workflow.

As drawn up, the N3.8T sports a futuristic appearance with elegant streamlining and a clean wing-body blended design. The broad surface fuselage is relatively flat to provide extensive internal volume (up to 60% more compared to traditional airliners) for cargo. The mainplanes will be seated well-aft of midships with straight edges and clipped tips. Vertical fins will be positioned over the twin engine nacelles, the powerplants positioned at the extreme end of the fuselage. Each engine is set to drive a four- or -five-bladed propeller unit in "pusher" configuration (facing aft). An oversized access door at fuselage port side will allow for easy entry-exit of goods. Ground-running will be handled by a conventional tricycle (retractable) wheeled undercarriage. Internally, the vast patent-pending "Diamond" cargo hold will support both bulk and container types.

Natilus has teamed up with Collins Aerospace for development of a new cargo-loading system to be featured in the N3.8T hauler.

As the design stands today, the vehicle will have a payload limit of 4.3 metric tons, feature an operational range of 900 nautical miles, and cruise at speeds of 220 knots. A Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) of 19,000lb is estimated, this against an empty weight rating of 9,500 lb. The aircraft will carry 620 lb of fuel.

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March 2022 - Natilus has begun construction of the tail units to be used in the N3.8T prototype.

Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one aircraft design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the Natilus N3.8T Unmanned Autonomous Commercial Cargo Transport.

2 x Engines driving multi-blade propeller units in pusher arrangement.
Propulsion

295 mph
475 kph | 256 kts
Max Speed

1,035 miles
1,665 km | 899 nm
Operational Range

Structure
The nose-to-tail, wingtip-to-wingtip physical qualities of the Natilus N3.8T Unmanned Autonomous Commercial Cargo Transport.

0
(UNMANNED)
Crew

9,502 lb
(4,310 kg)
Empty Weight

19,004 lb
(8,620 kg)
MTOW

Variants
Notable series variants as part of the Natilus N3.8T family line.

N3.8T - Base Series Designation.

Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the Natilus N3.8T. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national aircraft listing.

Total Production: 1 Units
Contractor(s): Natilus - USA

[ United States (possible) ]

1 / 1

Image from official Natilus marketing materials.

Going Further...
The Natilus N3.8T Unmanned Autonomous Commercial Cargo Transport appears in the following collections:

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