Electra.aero Nabs $1.9M Army Contract for Electric Aircraft Testing

The manufacturer’s flagship, hybrid-electric short takeoff and landing (eSTOL) aircraft requires only the space of a soccer field to launch and touch down.

Jack Daleo

Thursday, April 18, 2024 at 03:54 PM ET

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A technology demonstrator of Electra’s nine-passenger, hybrid-electric short takeoff and landing (eSTOL) aircraft takes flight. [Courtesy: Electra.aero]

Key Takeaways:

The U.S. Army is partnering with Electra.aero to experiment with its nine-passenger hybrid-electric Short Takeoff and Landing (eSTOL) aircraft, valued for its ability to operate from very small spaces (requiring only a 150-foot runway) for logistics in contested environments.
The eSTOL aircraft utilizes innovative blown-lift technology and a hybrid-electric propulsion system (turbogenerator with electric motors) for significantly reduced fuel consumption, lower noise, longer range (up to 1,000 nm for Army use), and plans for standard fixed-wing pilot certification.
Beyond military applications, Electra has secured over 2,000 commercial preorders for the eSTOL aircraft from various operators, with deliveries projected to begin in 2028.

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The U.S. Army will soon begin experimenting with an electric aircraft that needs only a soccer field-sized space to take off and land.

The Army on Thursday awarded a $1.9 million Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract to Electra.aero, the manufacturer of a nine-passenger, hybrid-electric short takeoff and landing (eSTOL) design, to perform powered wind tunnel testing.