IONA is pleased to announce that it will lead in the LIFT Project Logistics Innovation for Flight Transport, which has been awarded 3.8 million euro through the Government’s Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund. The initiative brings together IONA, Eire Composites and TU Dublin to advance scalable drone airframe technology.The work is scheduled to commence in January 2026.
The project aims to address one of the most persistent challenges in drone-enabled logistics, which is how to manufacture high performance aircraft structures for commercial deployment. While many systems progress successfully through prototyping, they often struggle to reach a point where production can be achieved cost-effectively and consistently. LIFT will focus on rethinking material selection, manufacturing processes and production workflows in order to create aircraft that are lighter, stronger and suitable for operation at scale.
The role of Eire Composites
Eire Composites will contribute its extensive experience in aerospace and space-grade composite structures. The company will lead the development of a new generation of airframes designed to reduce overall aircraft weight while maintaining the structural strength and reliability required for real world operations. The team will also investigate automated manufacturing methods that enhance production capacity and deliver uniform quality across each build.
Tomas Flanagan, Chief Executive of Eire Composites, commented:
“Our involvement in the LIFT Project enables us to push the boundaries of what composite materials and automated manufacturing can achieve for drone logistics. Developing airframes that are lighter, stronger and optimised for real world operations is a complex challenge, but it is exactly the kind of challenge our team excels at. We look forward to bringing our aerospace and space sector expertise to this important national initiative.”
Contribution of the Technological University of Dublin
The Technological University of Dublin will provide research support across materials science, engineering analysis and advanced manufacturing systems. Its involvement will ensure strong links between academic research and industrial application, enabling the consortium to test new approaches, validate performance and accelerate technology readiness.
National investment in disruptive technology
The funding announced for LIFT is part of a wider €36.9 million allocation under Call Seven of the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund. The programme supports collaborations between small and medium enterprises, multinational companies, and research institutions with the aim of developing breakthrough technologies across a range of strategic sectors.
Government representatives highlighted the significance of this investment in strengthening Ireland’s innovation capability and supporting research that can directly influence industry performance, competitiveness and job creation. The fund continues to encourage projects that demonstrate clear potential to address real world challenges and position Ireland at the forefront of technological development.
A step forward for scalable drone operations
Through the LIFT Project, IONA and its partners will work towards creating production-ready aircraft platforms that enable logistics operators to integrate drone technology into their operations with confidence. The combination of advanced composite engineering, automated production and academic research provides a strong foundation for building aircraft capable of large scale deployment.
The project represents a major step in turning the promise of drone logistics into a practical and commercially viable reality.