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Report: U.S. Air Force Should Scale Back Investment in eVTOL Tech

Researchers with the Rand Corporation find that the Air Force’s Agility Prime program is not delivering results for itself or its partners.

Thursday, October 17, 2024 at 02:04 PM ET

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Pivotal’s BlackFly eVTOL is among designs being evaluated by the Air Force’s Agility Prime program for military applications. [Courtesy: U.S. Air Force/Matthew Clouse]

Key Takeaways:

A Rand Corporation report questions the U.S. Air Force's investment in electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft through its Agility Prime program, stating they are unlikely to be "transformational" for the military.
The report finds that current Air Force capital injection is not effectively shaping the domestic eVTOL industry for military needs, despite potential for some limited mission benefits.
Rand recommends scaling back the Agility Prime program to focus on a few highly capable eVTOL aircraft, emphasize non-monetary collaboration, and support regulatory development rather than direct funding.
Agility Prime faces substantial budget cuts for fiscal year 2025, which may necessitate a reduction in funding to commercial partners and align the program more closely with Rand's recommendations.

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The U.S. Air Force is blowing its money on electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, according to a report released last month.

Manufacturers of novel eVTOL aircraft—designed to take off and land vertically like a helicopter but cruise on fixed wings like an airplane—have raised billions of dollars in venture capital. The FAA’s Innovate28 plan even predicts they will be a regular occurrence in U.S. skies by the time the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games arrive.

Jack Daleo

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.