Bulgaria’s Dronamics has partnered with Xcalibur Smart Mapping to develop an unmanned aerial geophysics solution for natural resource exploration across land and maritime environments, the companies announced on June 16.

The joint system will combine Xcalibur’s airborne geophysical acquisition technology for magnetometry and gravity surveys with Dronamics’ Black Swan unmanned aircraft platform, aiming to expand access to high-quality surveying in remote or high-risk areas.

The companies said the collaboration is designed to improve safety and operational efficiency in airborne geophysics, particularly in regions that are difficult or hazardous for crewed aircraft, such as offshore zones or mountainous terrain.

The global airborne geophysical services market, valued at more than $1.35bn in 2026, is expected to grow quickly, driven by demand for critical minerals and resource security. The sector plays a key role in helping countries identify and manage reserves of minerals, rare earths and freshwater, supporting energy security and economic resilience.

Dronamics’ Black Swan drone, which can carry payloads of up to 350 kg over distances of 2,500 km, is expected to enhance survey efficiency and reduce costs per flight, while lowering environmental impact through improved fuel efficiency.

“Unmanned aerial vehicles are rapidly increasing in sophistication and capability, and the Black Swan offers an opportunity to eliminate risk to aircrew in areas currently considered too hazardous for manned operations,” said Teo Hage, vice president of operations at Xcalibur.

Dronamics Chief Executive Svilen Rangelov said the partnership would combine both companies’ strengths to deliver a “transformational solution” for the airborne geophysics market.

The companies plan to conduct an initial trial programme in late 2026 to demonstrate system performance, data quality and operational efficiency, with results expected to guide future commercial deployment.