Natilus Picks Wing Supplier for Kona Blended-wing-body Cargo Airplane

Natilus has selected Composites Universal Group (CUG) to manufacture the wings for the full-scale prototype of its Kona blended-wing-body regional freighter, according to AeroTime, which reported the selection and related details on November 11, 2026. The wings are being produced at CUG’s facility in Oregon, with delivery to Natilus planned for spring 2027. The arrangement centers on a streamlined tooling process intended to reduce costs and shorten production time.

Aviation International News provides supporting details about Kona’s wing architecture, noting that while the Kona fuselage blends into the wing to generate lift, the wings themselves employ a conventional spar-and-rib structure. The wings are constructed from carbon fiber and will use a cable-and-pulley flight-control system. The article further states that the wings will be dry (lacking internal fuel tanks) and will adhere to aerospace materials meeting FAA standards.

AeroTime’s coverage adds that Natilus intends to build the wings from carbon fiber rather than aluminum, a choice the company says improves corrosion and fatigue resistance and reduces the number of parts and fasteners. Upon arrival at Natilus’ hangar in San Diego, the wings will undergo material coupon testing and bonded-joint testing, followed by limit-load testing ahead of the full-scale demonstration flight. The report does not specify a first-flight date for Kona.

According to AeroTime, the contract value for the wing manufacturing was not disclosed. The announcement indicates that the wings will be produced at Oregon-based CUG, with the Natilus Kona program targeting a spring 2027 delivery for the completed wings to be integrated at Natilus’ San Diego facility. The streamlined tooling approach is highlighted as a means to shorten lead times and reduce production costs.

AeronTime also notes Natilus’ broader federal support, referencing a prior US Air Force award to Kona development. In October 2026, Natilus announced a $3.5 million research, development, test and evaluation grant from the Air Force, issued through the office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Energy, Installations and Environment. The purpose of that funding is to advance Kona toward full-scale flight testing and demonstrations relevant to Joint Force operations.

Aviation International News describes Kona’s structural approach as a blended-wing-body design that uses a fuselage integrated with the wing for lift, but with wings built to a conventional structural framework. The publication emphasizes that the wings’ construction relies on a spar-and-rib arrangement and standard aerospace materials meeting FAA standards, along with dry-wing characteristics and non-tanked internal structure.

The combined reporting from AeroTime and Aviation International News indicates that the wing contract is a key milestone in Kona’s development, aligning with Natilus’ timeline to move toward demonstration flights and potential joint-force-relevant testing. The collaboration with CUG leverages the supplier’s prior experience with major aerospace players, including Airbus Defence and Space, Boeing, Archer Aviation, and SpaceX.

Natilus CEO Aleksey Matyushev is quoted by AeroTime regarding the wing design, stating that Kona’s blended-wing configuration may appear different from typical planes, yet the company is using off-the-shelf technology for the wing build. The statements underscore a philosophy of leveraging existing technology components while pursuing innovative integration for the blended-wing design.

The published images accompanying AeroTime’s report show composite wing manufacturing preparations for the Kona program at CUG’s Oregon facility, illustrating the early stages of wing fabrication and the ongoing nature of the autoclave- and layup-based processes used in carbon fiber wings. The material mentions that the project’s focus includes coupon testing and bonded-joint testing before subjecting the wings to limit-load tests in advance of demonstration flight.