Cormorant U
 A Cormorant floatplane, the airframe basis of the Cormorant U project. | |
| Type | Joint uncrewed maritime utility aircraft project |
|---|---|
| Countries involved | |
| Project started | II.1759 AN |
| Status | Development |
| Based on | Cormorant (floatplane) |
| Principal contractor | Šlomxala Arsenal |
| Technology partner | Javelin Industries |
| Logistics partner | ESB Logistics |
| Maritime support | ESB Maritime |
| Crew | None; remote-supervised |
| Powerplant | 1 × Šlomxala T-11B turboprop, 650 kW |
| Projected payload | Up to 1,200 kg |
| Length | 12.8 m (Cormorant baseline) |
| Wingspan | 16.5 m (Cormorant baseline) |
| Projected maximum take-off mass | 4,500 kg |
| Operational range | 1,450 km with 500 kg payload (projected) |
| Control system | Javelin autonomous-flight and datalink suite with NovaNav MPS |
| Primary roles | Island logistics, communications relay, and maritime support |
| Armament | None planned for initial configuration |
| First flight | Not announced |
| In service | Not entered service |
The Cormorant U is a proposed joint uncrewed maritime utility aircraft project initiated in II.1759 AN by the Benacian Union, Nouvelle Alexandrie, and Constancia to develop an unmanned derivative of the Cormorant floatplane. Šlomxala Arsenal is responsible for the airframe conversion and production, while Javelin Industries supplies the autonomous flight controls, secure datalink, and mission-system integration; ESB Logistics, working through its ESB Maritime subsidiary, provides logistics planning, water-handling procedures, depot support, and route trials. The project retains the Cormorant's single-engine high-wing layout, twin floats, compact utility fuselage, and common maintenance components, with the crew compartment replaced by avionics and mission equipment while preserving a projected cargo load of up to 1,200 kg. Early demonstrators are expected to retain removable cockpit controls for safety testing, but the intended production aircraft is remotely supervised during take-off, water taxiing, docking, and landing and operates autonomously during cruise. Initial missions are planned to include high-priority island-garrison supplies, dispatches, communications relay equipment, weather observations, and medical stores; the initial project scope excludes weapons and anti-submarine warfare systems, leaving those missions to other aircraft in the Šlomxala maritime-aviation program and preserving the Cormorant U's distinction from the amphibious Commodore.
