Aspera unveils Eureka, autonomous amphibious cargo aircraft
Bengaluru-based deep-tech aerospace startup Aspera Industries has unveiled Eureka, an autonomous amphibious cargo aircraft. The pilotless seaplane is designed to carry a 1,000-kilogram payload over a 2,000-kilometer range, taking off and landing on water using retractable hydrofoils. Aspera aims to reduce air freight costs to under $1 per tonne-kilometer, challenging traditional shipping economics. The company plans to focus initially on New Zealand, Australia, and Southeast Asia, targeting logistics providers and defense organizations. Aspera, founded in June 2025 by Khushi Mittal, has raised $750,000 in seed funding and is currently at the prototyping stage.
Aspera Industries is betting that autonomous amphibious aircraft can make air cargo competitive with sea freight, a significant shift if achieved. Eureka, their pilotless seaplane, targets a 1-tonne payload and 2,000-km range, aiming for freight costs below $1 per tonne-kilometer. This approach could bypass the need for extensive airport infrastructure, leveraging the 71% of the planet covered by water as potential runways. The initial focus on New Zealand, Australia, and Southeast Asia suggests a strategic move to regions with significant coastlines and island nations, where such a solution could offer substantial logistical advantages over traditional air or sea routes. The company's plan to build and operate its aircraft in-house also gives it greater control over service delivery and design iteration. The core challenge for Aspera lies in proving its cost targets at scale, as Eureka remains in the prototyping phase. While the concept of using hydrofoils to overcome the drag issues of older seaplanes is innovative, the transition from validated prototypes to commercial certification and fleet operation is complex and capital-intensive. The involvement of Madhavan Nambiar, former Secretary in India's Ministry of Civil Aviation, as an advisor provides a crucial link to regulatory considerations, which will be vital for market entry and expansion across Asia.
