AIRSHIP is a Horizon Europe research project that envisions a new class of autonomous, electric vehicles operating in ground effect: the Unmanned Wing-in-ground Vehicle (UWV). These “flying ships” exploit the aerodynamic ground effect to achieve a higher lift-to-drag ratio, offering a highly efficient transport solution that bridges the gap between aviation and maritime mobility.

AIRSHIP project addresses key challenges in sustainable logistics, particularly for archipelagos and inland waterways across Europe, regions where conventional ships are too slow and aircraft too costly or environmentally taxing. We aim to lay the foundations for fast, flexible, low-emission, and infrastructure-light cargo transport systems.

AIRSHIP’s core ambition is to develop a fully electric, autonomous UWV optimised for medium-distance cargo transport across coastal and inland regions. To achieve this, the project tackles key technical challenges in aerodynamics, energy systems, and autonomy. Research focuses on novel UWV design, advanced guidance, navigation, and control (GNC), renewable-based power architecture, and onboard artificial intelligence for cognitive and situational awareness.

Beyond its technical goals, AIRSHIP contributes to cleaner, quieter modes of transportation and supports European strategic autonomy in green mobility. It also opens new business models for regional cargo logistics.

This presentation will introduce the project’s vision, the unique technical challenges of operating in ground effect, and the innovations under development. We will highlight current progress, upcoming milestones, and the broader implications of the AIRSHIP concept.