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Milestone achieved in partnership with Leeft, CHU de Nantes' CR2TI laboratory, and IGL
FRANCE 18 June 2025. Dufour Aerospace is proud to announce its participation in a groundbreaking medical logistics operation in France: the successful drone transport of a human tissue graft. Conducted in collaboration with Leeft, the CR2TI UMR 1064 Nantes laboratory of the CHU de Nantes, and organ preservation specialist IGL, the mission represents a significant advancement in time-critical healthcare logistics.
The operation involved transporting a medical graft using an uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) over a pre-defined route in western France, demonstrating the real-world viability of long-range drone delivery in high-stakes medical scenarios. The mission marks the first time such a transport has been completed in France and underscores the potential of UAVs to revolutionize healthcare supply chains.
"Together with our partners, we have been working on making these flights happen for quite some time. I’m very proud that we could contribute our part in providing a team and an AeroMini drone system to support the mission. As many different actors are involved and time is limited, such operations are quite complex. This helps a lot to get valuable, real-world feedback, which directly supports the improvement of our products," said Sascha Hardegger, CEO of Dufour Aerospace.
Dufour Aerospace provided both the aircraft and integration support to ensure the mission met stringent operational and safety standards. Our tilt-wing aircraft, designed for runway-independent operations and optimized for logistics missions, played a central role in proving that UAVs can enhance speed, precision, and sustainability in medical cargo transport.
The mission was spearheaded by Leeft, a pioneer in inter-hospital drone logistics. Medical oversight and tissue handling were led by the CR2TI UMR 1064 research team from CHU de Nantes, under the direction of Prof. Julien Branchereau and Dr. Benoît Mesnard. IGL, a global expert in organ preservation, contributed essential solutions and knowledge for the protection and transport of the graft.
Crucial operational support was also provided by the COMMUNE DU LOROUX-BOTTEREAU and the Mairie de Haute-Goulaine.
This collaboration is a powerful example of how innovation in aerospace and medicine can converge to deliver life-saving outcomes. As uncrewed aerial systems become more integrated into healthcare logistics, missions like this pave the way for safer, faster, and more sustainable delivery of critical medical supplies.
About Dufour Aerospace:
Dufour Aerospace is pioneering drones for critical missions. Based in Switzerland, Dufour Aerospace develops and manufactures efficient and sustainable aircraft for cargo transportation, logistics, and public safety. The Aero2 drone features distributed electric propulsion and a hybrid module to meet today’s Advanced Air Mobility and medium-sized drone market requirements.
Contact: media@dufour.aero
More info: www.dufour.aero
About Leeft:
Leeft is revolutionizing medical transportation with drone solutions that combine innovation and aeronautical expertise. Their mission is to simplify healthcare professionals' daily lives, optimize care processes, and increase patient survival rates. Leeft is committed to advancing technology in service of humanity and public health.
More info: https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeftoff/
About IGL:
IGL is a family-owned company and part of the I-CAIR group, specializing in the preservation of donor organs for transplantation. Headquartered in the Greater Lyon Area (France), IGL supports transplant teams globally in expanding transplantable organ pools and improving clinical outcomes.
More info: https://igl-group.com/
About CR2TI UMR 1064 Nantes:
The Center for Research in Transplantation and Immunology (CRTI) is a multidisciplinary academic research unit affiliated with INSERM and Nantes University, located at CHU de Nantes. CRTI focuses on understanding immune system mechanisms and advancing translational research in transplantation, autoimmunity, and infectious diseases.
More info: https://cr2ti.univ-nantes.fr/
About CHU de Nantes:
The Nantes University Hospital (CHU de Nantes) is a leading French healthcare institution renowned for its excellence in clinical care, research, and medical education.
More info: https://www.chu-nantes.fr
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ABOUT DUFOUR AEROSPACE:
Dufour Aerospace is pioneering drones for critical missions. Based in Switzerland, Dufour develops and manufactures efficient and sustainable aircraft for cargo transportation, logistics, and public safety. The Aero2 drone features distributed electric propulsion and a hybrid module to meet today’s Advanced Air Mobility and medium-sized drone market requirements.