AkzoNobel Launches Iris CMX Drone for Aircraft Paint Inspection

This article is based on an official press release from AkzoNobel.

On April 29, 2026, AkzoNobel announced a significant upgrade to its Aerofleet Coatings Management service, introducing a new drone-based inspection tool designed to revolutionize aircraft paint maintenance. According to the company’s press release, the new drone, named the Iris CMX, was developed in partnership with French automated inspection specialist Donecle.

The Iris CMX is equipped with a specialized three-in-one contact-based sensor that physically measures paint thickness, color, and gloss. When deployed alongside AkzoNobel’s existing visual inspection drone, the Iris GVI, the dual-drone system enables airlines to complete a comprehensive exterior inspection of a narrowbody aircraft in approximately 30 minutes.

This technological advancement marks a critical shift in aerospace maintenance. By moving away from rigid, time-based repainting schedules, airlines can now rely on highly accurate, data-driven predictive models. According to AkzoNobel, this transition is expected to save airlines money, increase aircraft availability, and substantially reduce the environmental impact associated with aircraft repainting.

The Technology Behind the Dual-Drone System

The upgraded Aerofleet system utilizes a comprehensive three-pillar data approach to assess coating performance, combining quantitative measurements, qualitative imaging, and environmental data.

Quantitative and Qualitative Data Collection

The first pillar relies on the newly introduced Iris CMX drone. As detailed in the press release, this drone gathers quantitative data using a targeted contact-based sensor to physically measure dry film thickness, color data, and gloss. This capability brings unprecedented accuracy, consistency, and repeatability to coating inspections, ensuring that the physical properties of the paint are meticulously tracked over time.

The second pillar involves the pre-existing Iris GVI drone, which focuses on qualitative data. During an inspection, the Iris GVI flies in a programmed grid over the aircraft’s surface, capturing up to 600 high-definition photographs. Donecle’s proprietary machine learning algorithms then analyze these images to identify and flag wear, tear, or specific defects, such as rivet rash or lightning strikes.

The final pillar integrates external flight and environmental data. The Aerofleet system feeds variables such as route profiles, UV exposure, and humidity into its predictive models, creating a holistic view of the aircraft’s exterior health.

Operational and Environmental Impact

AkzoNobel notes that the Aerofleet Coatings Management service is ideally suited for commercial airlines operating fleets of 100 aircraft or more. By utilizing a trained two-person team to operate both drones simultaneously, one on each side of the aircraft, maintenance crews can drastically reduce inspection times.

Efficiency and Sustainability Benefits

By accurately determining the true “health” of an aircraft’s paint, airlines can avoid premature and unnecessary repainting. This data-driven approach lowers direct maintenance costs and keeps aircraft in the air longer, thereby increasing overall fleet availability. Furthermore, the drones can be utilized during manufacturing and routine maintenance cycles to ensure coatings meet strict specifications from day one, which helps reduce costly rework.

From an environmental standpoint, extending the lifespan of aircraft coatings directly reduces the consumption of chemical paints. It also lowers the carbon footprint associated with the energy-intensive repainting process, aligning with broader aviation industry sustainability goals.

“Aerofleet Coatings Management has always been about giving airlines greater confidence in when and why they maintain or repaint their aircraft. The addition of the Iris CMX brings precise, consistent measurement into the process to strengthen the data that underpins our predictive models. It also allows us to support expert assessment with more objective, consistent and repeatable inspections, while improving the speed and efficiency of the inspection process.”

Industry Context and the Donecle Partnership

AkzoNobel’s Aerospace Coatings business initially launched the Aerofleet Coatings Management service in 2023. To solidify the technological foundation of the service, AkzoNobel acquired a minority stake in Donecle in October 2023. Donecle’s automated drone technology has been certified by major aviation regulatory bodies and manufacturers, including the FAA, EASA, Airbus, and Boeing.

The Rise of Automated MRO

The partnership highlights a growing trend of automation within the aviation sector. Donecle recently raised an additional €10 million in April 2026 to expand its AI capabilities and international footprint, according to reporting by Aviation Week Network. This funding signals strong market demand for automated, AI-driven inspection tools.

“We have already been collaborating to develop the new Aerofleet Coatings Management service and will be working closely with their teams in evolving this and other services to help keep our aerospace customers one step ahead of the competition.”

Claybrough has also recently noted at industry events that artificial intelligence is highly effective at finding small defects, allowing human inspectors and AI to combine for optimal results.

AirPro News analysis

We observe that the aviation Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) sector is rapidly shifting from reactive maintenance to predictive maintenance. The integration of tools like the Iris CMX drone reflects a broader industry reliance on “digital twins” and AI-driven data threads. By forecasting wear and tear before it becomes a safety or aesthetic issue, airlines are not only optimizing their operational budgets but also mitigating the safety risks associated with traditional manual inspections, which often require scaffolding and extensive downtime. The €10 million capital injection into Donecle further underscores investor confidence that drone-assisted MRO is transitioning from a niche innovation to an industry standard.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a drone inspection take with the new system?

According to AkzoNobel, when the Iris CMX and Iris GVI drones are operated simultaneously by a two-person team, a full exterior inspection of a narrowbody aircraft takes approximately 30 minutes.

What exactly does the Iris CMX drone measure?

The Iris CMX uses a three-in-one contact-based sensor to physically measure the dry film thickness, color data, and gloss of the aircraft’s paint.

What size fleets benefit most from this technology?

AkzoNobel states that the Aerofleet Coatings Management service is ideally suited for commercial airlines operating fleets of 100 aircraft or more.

Sources:

• AkzoNobel Official Press Release (April 29, 2026)