Piasecki Earns $37M Air Force Contract to Develop ARES VTOL

The manufacturer is developing what it claims will be the first zero-emissions, hydrogen-powered compound helicopter on the market.

Jack Daleo

Tuesday, November 21, 2023 at 03:09 PM ET

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Piasecki’s ARES, a vertical takeoff and landing uncrewed aerial system, is designed for a range of military use cases. [Courtesy: Piasecki Aircraft]

Key Takeaways:

Piasecki Aircraft secured a multiyear, $37 million contract with AFWERX (U.S. Air Force) to test and demonstrate its Aerial Reconfigurable Embedded System (ARES) UAS, a project previously canceled by DARPA.
The agreement also includes demonstrating hydrogen fuel cell propulsion technology, in collaboration with ZeroAvia, for vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft.
Piasecki's PA-890 eVTOL, a zero-emission, hydrogen-powered compound helicopter, is intended for both military support (via ARES) and commercial applications, promising quieter, longer-range, and more cost-effective operations.
The company is expanding its operations, having acquired a former Sikorsky facility to serve as an advanced research, development, and testing hub for VTOL and UAS aircraft.

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A few years ago, uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) developer Piasecki Aircraft struck out when its contract with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) was canceled due to delays and high costs. On Tuesday, though, the company had a reversal of fortune.

Piasecki announced it was awarded a multiyear, $37 million contract with AFWERX, the innovation arm of the U.S. Air Force, through the division’s Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) program. The agreement will allow the Pennsylvania-based firm to test and demonstrate its Aerial Reconfigurable Embedded System (ARES)—the same UAS project that was snubbed by DARPA.