Zipline has announced that it has signed a cooperation agreement with the U.S. Department of State, which will enable it to secure $150 million (over 217 billion Rwandan francs) to support its operations.
Zipline’s CEO, Keller Rinaudo Cliffton, explained that the $150 million will be added to another $400 million (over 581 billion Rwandan francs) that will be provided by partner governments.
He stated that these initiatives will benefit more than 130 million people across different African countries, through essential deliveries made by Zipline drones.
He added that countries rely on Zipline because of the company’s ability to reach people quickly and at a low cost.
“Recent research shows that our delivery approach is the most affordable way to reach unvaccinated children with vaccines it costs only $0.66 per child. This is a major shift in U.S. policy.” He said.
He emphasized that this aligns with the U.S. strategy of exporting advanced technology including artificial intelligence and robotics to developing countries to help them save lives, accelerate development, and strengthen their economies.
“This will also help the United States continue to lead in technology and industry for the next decade.” He added.
Keller Rinaudo Cliffton noted that even though everyone lives on the same planet, not all people have equal access to essential goods and services.
He explained that Zipline manufactures its drones in the United States and ships them to different countries where they help deliver critical supplies especially blood and medicine to those who need them most.
“In our 10 years in Africa, we have expanded our work to 5,000 hospitals and health facilities. We provide daily services, operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week.” He said.
During this time, they have seen that Zipline not only saves lives but also helps reduce financial costs.
He stated that they plan to triple their operations, aiming to deliver services across different parts of the world so that all communities in the countries where they work rural and urban can be fully reached, supported by new advanced drones the company is developing.
Zipline Rwanda began operations in 2016, marking the first time in Africa that drones were used for civilian logistics. The service has since expanded to other African countries, Europe, and Asia.
In Rwanda, Zipline now handles over 600 deliveries per day. It began by delivering only blood, but now it delivers 10 categories of commodities, including more than 200 types of medicines. It operates distribution centers in Muhanga (Shyogwe Sector) and Kayonza. About 35% of its deliveries consist of livestock semen.
Regarding the new city-focused drones, Keller Rinaudo Cliffton said that they are expected to be introduced in Rwanda in 2026. These newly launched drones were recently showcased in Rwanda. The new drones known as Platform 2 (P2) feature more advanced technology compared to the existing fleet.
They are designed mainly for densely populated urban areas, beginning in Kigali before expanding to other parts of the country. They are expected to begin service in 2026, assisting the health sector, restaurants, businesses, and other technology-driven services.
The P2 drone uses a retractable tether that lowers the package gently to the ground, ensuring safe and precise deliveries, even in cities with tall buildings and complex structures.
This drone has two long wings and four vertical propellers for takeoff. It can fly at 100 km/h and at an altitude between 100 and 400 meters. It can also continue the traditional Zipline service of delivering blood within Kigali.
Unlike the existing drones, the P2 models can pick up a package from one location and deliver it elsewhere, continuing to other destinations without returning to their base after every delivery. Currently, there are about 50 engineers working on this project in Rwanda, in addition to the 150 employees who operate the existing drones.