ERC presents unmanned cargo drone “Victor” in Berlin

The German company ERC System has announced the introduction of the unmanned hybrid-electric cargo drone „Victor,“ designed for military supply and critical logistics missions. The drone was presented to the public at ILA 2026 in Berlin. With a payload capacity of up to 250 kg and a range of 300 km at a cruising speed of 250 km/h, „Victor“ aims to fill an existing gap in defense logistics that is widely recognized in Europe.

The design of „Victor“ allows for vertical takeoff and landing while utilizing wings for forward flight. This construction enables access to locations with limited infrastructure and offers higher speeds, longer ranges, and faster cargo handling compared to conventional multicopters. Maximilian Oligschläger, Chief Commercial Officer of ERC, stated: „In the past 18 months, we have been approached by military and civilian operators to apply our experiences from building ‚Romeo,‘ the heaviest unmanned eVTOL in the EU, to a cargo drone.“

The need for such a drone is evident in the military community. Currently, there is no unmanned platform available on the market capable of transporting significant loads over the required distances and speeds to adequately support military units in the field. „Victor“ can transport up to two pallets and deliver cargo via drop-off, reducing the need to land in challenging environments.

The first deliveries of the series models are planned for 2028, an ambitious goal that only a few European companies could achieve. Oligschläger expressed confidence in the timeline: „We are confident that we can meet our schedule, based on our six years of experience in building some of the heaviest electrified aircraft in the EU.“ ERC plans to enter strategic partnerships to drive industrialization and strengthen the capabilities to quickly close the existing gap.

In addition to defense logistics, ERC also sees initial demand for „Victor“ in offshore and coastal logistics, supply and maintenance of critical infrastructures, remote industrial operations, and civilian disaster relief. The company is collaborating with selected partners in these segments to further refine the product and prepare for rapid market introduction.

www.erc-system.com