Amazon’s flying drones are coming to Europe – again

Amazon’s flying delivery drones have had a bit of a tough time since launching the Prime Air program in 2013. After relaunching the program in the US, the bad news keeps coming. But now there’s hope for the future from the e-tailer, at least if you like flying drones that deliver e-commerce packages.

Yesterday, Amazon announced that it would begin delivering prescriptions through an active pilot program in Texas, among others. The medicines come from Amazon Pharmacy, the e-tailer’s own online pharmacy. Amazon is expanding its product range with drones, of course, showing that the program has not stopped, as was recently speculated.

Two new countries and one state

More interesting for us in Europe, however, Amazon’s statement makes it clear that Amazon’s drones are coming to the UK and Italy. However, the former will return, as Amazon’s previous drone pilot project was run in Cambridge.

With Amazon’s new drone investment, it’s time to take drones across the Atlantic. This appears to be a larger output than the previous small trial at Cambridge. They will start with one in the UK and two in Italy, but these will be expanded over time. One more state in the US will gain access to flying deliveries.

Can fly in the rain

Amazon didn’t share more details than that. The deadline is also a bit vague, but you should be up and running by the end of next year. However, the addition of two new countries is definitely a big step for Amazon’s new venture, and they are active with flying drones. The company today offers drones in a city in Texas and a city in California, both relatively small-scale trials but with thousands of customers, according to Amazon.

A new version of the drone, dubbed the MK30, is also planned before being introduced in new countries. It doesn’t require a special landing pad, which the company’s drones require today. Should be flyable even in light rain.