DRONAMICS signs MoU with Sofia Airport before upcoming Black Swan unveil

The UK and Bulgaria-based unmanned aircraft developer and operator DRONAMICS and SOF connect, the operator of Sofia Airport today has announced a signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on collaborating on innovation initiatives at the airport.

SOF Connect's CEO Jesus Caballero and COO Henning Pfisterer signed today the agreement with Svilen Rangelov CEO and co-founder and Konstantin Rangelov, CTO and co-founder of DRONAMICS.

The two companies will collaborate on the upcoming global unveiling of the first unit of the full-scale Black Swan unmanned drone. The event is planned to take place on the airfield of Sofia Airport where the DRONAMICS team will present to the world the first manufactured unit in Bulgaria and plans to expand globally.

The Memorandum also envisages collaboration on flight demonstrations, and trials of the logistics service for same-day shipping with the "Black Swan" from Sofia airport as well as to explore further possibilities in expanding DRONAMICS' current manufacturing and testing facilities with airside access at the airport.

Svilen Rangelov, CEO of DRONAMICS, said, "Currently most of the DRONAMICS team is based in Bulgaria and we are extremely happy to find great collaboration partners such as SOF connect for showcasing such an important milestone not only for us but also for the Bulgarian aviation sector. Our global ambitions are tied to developing a strong R&D core based in Sofia and this partnership is a great opportunity for us."

Jesús Caballero, CEO of SOF Connect, said, "The DRONAMICS team is an excellent example of an innovative company operating in close collaboration with Sofia Airport. It is therefore very important for us to support and promote the development of aviation technologies of the future. We are extremely happy to host the unveiling of the first Black Swan drone created by Bulgarians,"

SOF Connect
As of April 19, 2021, SOF Connect has taken over the management of Sofia Airport for the next 35 years. The main shareholder in the company is Meridiam, which owns 99 percent of the capital and shares, and the Austrian company Strabag, which has 1 percent.

The concession is a long-term project that aims to develop and modernize Bulgaria's largest airport by applying best practices and high standards in services and facilities. EUR 624 million will be invested over the concession period. The development of the capital's airport will contribute to the economic prosperity of the region, attracting more tourists and turning Bulgaria into a popular destination.