UK Set to have the World's Largest Automated Drone Superhighway

Within the next two years, the United Kingdom will be home to the world's largest automated drone superhighway. The drones will be used in the 164-mile Skyway project, which will connect towns and cities such as Cambridge and Rugby.

It is part of a £273 million funding package for the Aerospace Sector that will be announced on Monday by Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng. Drones delivering mail to the Isles of Scilly and medication across Scotland are among the other projects. Mr. Kwarteng will make the announcement at the Farnborough International Airshow, the first since 2019.

He will claim that the money will "assist the sector in capitalising on the enormous opportunities for growth that exist as the world transitions to cleaner forms of flight." Skyway, according to Dave Pankhurst, BT's director of drones, is about scaling up trials that have been taking place across the UK. The collaboration includes BT as one of the partners.

"This drone capability has existed for quite some time, but it is still in its infancy in terms of actually being part of our society and being a usable application," he explained.

He further said, "So, for us, this is a significant step towards that goal. It will create numerous opportunities." Skynet will receive more than £12 million to connect the airspace above Reading, Oxford, Milton Keynes, Cambridge, Coventry, and Rugby by mid-2024.