MK30

MK30 is Amazon Prime Air's current delivery drone, a hybrid multicopter-fixed-wing aircraft that takes off and lands vertically before transitioning to wing-borne cruise flight, carrying packages of up to 5 lb (2.27 kg) within about 7.5 mi (12 km) of its launch site. Amazon unveiled it in 2023 as the successor to the MK27-2, and began rolling it out across US delivery sites through 2024.

Overview

Amazon's Prime Air programme has built its own delivery drones in-house since the service was announced in 2013, rather than buying aircraft from an outside manufacturer. The MK30 is the latest in that MK-numbered line, designed to be smaller, lighter and quieter than the preceding MK27-2 while roughly doubling its operating range. Amazon holds an FAA Part 135 air-carrier certificate for commercial drone delivery, and has said it was the first operator certified to fly a drone over 55 lb under that standard Part 135 framework; it has also received FAA authorisation to fly MK30 beyond visual line of sight without ground-based visual observers.

As of 2026, Amazon operates Prime Air from 11 sites across 10 US metro areas, including Phoenix, Tampa, Kansas City, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Detroit, Omaha, Baton Rouge and Waco, and has said it intends to expand drone delivery to nearly 500 US cities and towns by the end of 2026. The MK30 also supports Prime Air's first international services, in the United Kingdom and Italy.

Design and capabilities

The MK30 is a hybrid multicopter-fixed-wing design described by Amazon and the FAA as a tail-sitter with staggered tandem wings, using six electric propulsors for vertical take-off and landing and a transition to wing-borne flight for the en-route cruise segment. According to FAA filings, the aircraft weighs about 77.9 lb (35.5 kg) empty and has a maximum take-off weight of 83.2 lb (37.8 kg), including a maximum payload of 5 lb (2.27 kg). It has a maximum operating range of about 7.5 mi (12 km), flies up to 400 ft (122 m) above ground level, and reaches a maximum cruise speed of about 73 mph (117.5 km/h) during wing-borne flight. It runs on rechargeable lithium-ion batteries and carries cameras and other sensors for an onboard detect-and-avoid system intended to spot and steer around obstacles, including people, pets and property, during descent to a delivery point. Amazon says custom-designed propellers cut the MK30's perceived noise by roughly 40% compared with the MK27-2, and that the aircraft can operate in light rain and a wider range of temperatures than its predecessor.

Use cases

Amazon uses the MK30 exclusively for its own Prime Air last-mile delivery service, flying eligible items weighing 5 lb or less — Amazon says this covers roughly 60% of its most frequently purchased products — from local delivery sites to nearby homes, typically within about 30 to 60 minutes of ordering. Each delivery site covers roughly 175 sq mi.

Frequently asked questions

How much weight can the Amazon MK30 carry?

Up to 5 lb (2.27 kg) per package.

How far can the MK30 fly?

Amazon and the FAA give a maximum operating range of about 7.5 mi (12 km) from its launch site.

Can the MK30 fly in bad weather?

Amazon says it can operate in light rain and a wider range of temperatures than the earlier MK27-2, though it is not rated for heavy weather.

Who operates the MK30?

Amazon operates it exclusively for its own Prime Air delivery service in the United States, United Kingdom and Italy.

Is the MK30 a multirotor or a fixed-wing aircraft?

Both: it is a VTOL "tail-sitter" design that takes off and lands using six rotors, then transitions to wing-borne flight for cruising.