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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 suggests the U.S. Air Force's Agility Prime program is ineffectively investing in eVTOL aircraft, as they are unlikely to be transformational for USAF missions.
The report concludes that direct capital injection into eVTOL firms is not effectively shaping the domestic industry to meet military requirements.
Recommendations include scaling back the program, continuing commercial partnerships without direct funding, and supporting government agencies in developing key eVTOL regulations.
Agility Prime faces significant budget cuts in the upcoming fiscal year, potentially forcing a reduction in funding to commercial partners, aligning with some of the report's suggestions.

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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.