Fully Electric UAS Validated by DoD for Defense & Commercial Use

Kraus Hamdani Aerospace’s fully electric, long-endurance K1000ULE UAS has been added to the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DoD) Defense Innovation Unit Blue UAS Cleared and Select Lists, confirming it as a trusted, secure, NDAA-compliant drone ready for immediate procurement.

The K1000ULE is known as the longest-endurance, longest-range aircraft in its category, able to sustain operations with minimal logistical footprint, no fuel, and rapid deployment from box to flight in approximately 10 minutes.

Kraus Hamdani Aerospace’s UAS is runway-independent and can carry multiple payloads to support long-endurance operations. It has a highly efficient, fully electric propulsion system, operating with a silent acoustic signature. The K1000ULE’s minimal logistical footprint and no fuel requirements enable sustained missions over large distances without redeployment.

The UAS functions as an autonomous communications gateway providing sophisticated Aerial Tier Network Extension (ATNE) capabilities extending and bridging voice and data waveforms and Tactical Data Links. It is designed to align with key frameworks such as JADC2 and Next Gen C2. Powered by the Kraus Hamdani Artificial Intelligence engine (KHAi), the K1000ULE also provides real-time decision support.

These capabilities interconnect the battlefield, unify the Common Operating Picture, and maintain mission continuity in A2/AD environments.

The K1000ULE, independently assessed with zero cyber vulnerabilities and carrying an Authority to Operate (ATO), is developed for contested and denied environments. Its AI-driven mission capabilities and seamless integration across domains solve complex operational challenges.

With the Pentagon prioritizing rapid fielding of American-made, cyber-secure autonomous systems, this designation enables U.S. forces to deploy without waiver or delay.

The recognition provides faster access to the K1000ULE, a TRL-9 operationally implemented system. It highlights the aircraft’s dual-use capabilities, with deployments in defense and commercial sectors, such as oil and gas pipeline monitoring.

Stefan Kraus, Co-founder and CTO of Kraus Hamdani Aerospace, stated, “This achievement validates the aircraft, and the complete autonomy and software stack behind it. It is secure, interoperable, and field-proven with the Army, Navy, MARSOC, and allied forces. We are ready to meet the DOD’s call for scalable operational autonomy today.”

The system has also earned an APFIT award from the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, reinforcing its maturity and readiness. This supports the DoD’s “Unleashing U.S. Military Drone Dominance” initiative, emphasizing the need to equip warfighters with advanced technology.