Drones to transport blood in Wales in life-saving trial
The first pilot, starting early 2026, will test the blood’s safety during flight at altitudes up to 2,000 ft (610 m). The drones’ design includes a hatch in the body to control temperature and minimize vibrations.
Specially commissioned drones will be used to carry blood donations across Wales as part of a new trial aimed at saving lives. Currently, blood processed in south Wales is transported by road, a journey that can take several hours.
The Dragon's Heart project plans to fly life-saving blood samples using drones weighing about 55 lb (25 kg) and measuring 5.5 ft (1.7 m) wide, reports BBC.
The first pilot, starting early 2026, will test the blood's safety during flight at altitudes up to 2,000 ft (610 m). The drones' design includes a hatch in the body to control temperature and minimize vibrations.
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Skyports Drone Services, which operates globally, will run the flights in partnership with Snowdonia Aerospace Centre at Llanbedr airfield. The drones can take off vertically, transition to fixed-wing flight, cover up to 62 miles (100 km), land in small areas, and withstand winds up to 30 knots.
The trial will initially fly blood between Talbot Green, Rhondda Cynon Taf, and Wrexham, potentially cutting travel time by three hours.
If successful, the service could expand to hospitals and support emergency responses, including ambulance 999 services, offering faster, more frequent deliveries across rural Wales.
