Walmart is rolling out a major expansion of its drone delivery program, now reaching customers in Houston, Tampa, Orlando, Atlanta, and Charlotte. This new phase brings the service to 100 additional stores, allowing customers to receive essential items like medication, snacks, and baby products by drone in 30 minutes or less. Operated by Wing, a drone company owned by Google’s parent Alphabet, this expansion aims to compete directly with Amazon Prime Air’s growing delivery network.

The service is available to customers living within a six-mile radius of participating Walmart stores. Drones fly several hundred feet in the air and descend to around 23 feet to lower packages to the ground using a tether system. This gentle delivery method has been tested with fragile items like eggs successfully ensuring they arrive unbroken.

The drone program uses Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management (UTM), a safety system approved by the FAA, to coordinate airspace and avoid conflicts with law enforcement drones or other air traffic. Airspace Link, a drone traffic service provider, works to ensure that all drones fly in safe, pre-authorized zones.

Customers will be able to place orders for items weighing up to 2.5 pounds, with plans to increase the limit to 5 pounds. After selecting items online, shoppers choose their delivery spot using satellite imagery of their home and can track the delivery in real time. Deliveries are free during the initial launch and remain free for Walmart+ members, while non-members will be charged $20 per order.

Walmart has been testing drone deliveries for the past few years in Dallas and Bentonville, Arkansas. Now, with this expanded launch, the retailer continues its push to dominate the fast-shipping landscape and stay ahead in the race against Amazon. While specific rollout dates haven’t been confirmed, Walmart and Wing say deliveries will begin in the coming weeks and months. Interested customers can visit Wing.com/Walmart to see if their address qualifies for drone delivery.