M3 by Matternet: status and timeline

Carry heavier loads for hospitals and restaurants with autonomous drones. Scaling that needs a certified aircraft and a docking network, not just a working prototype.

ProtoStage 2 of 5

Unveiled September 2026; not yet FAA-certified; commercial service targeted for the second half of 2027.

Checked 12 Oct0 updates this week

Milestones

Next · Commercial M3 service begins

M3 unveiled28 Sep 2026Complete.
Commercial M3 service beginsTarget 2027Not yet reached.
FAA type certification for M3Not yet reached.

Upcoming

2027Commercial M3 service begins (next)

Current obstacles

Certification still pendingThe M2 holds FAA type and production certification. The M3 has none yet, and the company says certification could move its 2027 target.

Physics limits

Payload trades against rangeThe M3 carries more than the M2 (11 lb vs 4.4 lb) but flies a shorter 10-mile radius than the M2's roughly 12.4 miles. Battery energy per kilogram limits how much weight and distance a drone can combine.

How it works

3 parts

Aircraft

A new drone, not an M2 variant

A larger battery and cargo bay make it a different aircraft. It flies packages up to 11 lb over a 10-mile radius.

Dock

Charges between flights

A rooftop or ground-level station stores the drone and charges it between flights.

Portal

Off-grid drop box

A freestanding box takes several packages, so staff can leave them without waiting for the drone.

Spec sheet

Spec	M3
Payload	5 kg (11 lb)^R (reported)
Service radius	16 km (10 mi)^R (reported)

^R reported by the company

About Matternet

The team behind M3

Matternet

M2 M3 drone delivery, FAA certified

Matternet designs autonomous drone networks for package and medical delivery. The M2 is the first aircraft with FAA Type and Production Certification, carrying 2 kg over 20 km with 60-second battery swaps. Went public May 2026 via SPAC; M3 launched September 2026.

Only delivery drone company with FAA Type and Production Certification, enabling commercial operations.
M2 completes delivery cycles in under 60 seconds: land, swap battery, load package, take off.
Serves healthcare (NHS operations in London), food and retail (Dave's Hot Chicken), and operates in Saudi Arabia and Switzerland.

matternet.com (opens matternet.com)Company profile →

Founded: 201115 yrs
Headquarters: United States
Status: Public
Valuation: $59MprivateMay 2026
Last round: SPAC merger (Los Altos Ventures Corp.) · $34MMay 2026
Works in: AviationDelivery drones
Coverage: 2 programs · 5 updateslatest 14d agochecked 11 Oct
Lead investors: BoeingSonyMercedes-BenzMcKesson Ventures
Partners: SoftBank Robotics America (opens softbankrobotics.com)AVI-SPL (opens avispl.com)ANRA Technologies (opens anratechnologies.com)
Suppliers: Amprius (opens amprius.com)
People: Andreas Raptopoulos (opens matternet.com)CEO and Founder

Spec

Payload

5 kg (11 lb)^R (reported)

Service radius

16 km (10 mi)^R (reported)