Electra to associate with the U.S. Military to discover the operational advantages of hybrid-electric propulsion on gas demand, vary, and new mission capabilities for present and future plane
Electra was awarded a $1.9 million Small Enterprise Innovation Analysis (SBIR) contract by the U.S. Military to advance the analysis and improvement of hybrid-electric powertrain, energy, and propulsion methods (HEPPS).
The award permits the U.S. Military to leverage Electra’s technical management in growing and testing hybrid-electric propulsion methods and evaluating its potential to enhance the effectiveness of present and future Military plane platforms.
Below the settlement, Electra will conduct a complete collection of expertise maturation and danger discount actions for hybrid-electric propulsion associated to its EL9, a nine-passenger ultra-short takeoff and touchdown (Extremely-STOL) plane at the moment in improvement. In consequence, Electra will ship beneficial insights and take a look at information to assist the Military perceive the advantages, trade-offs, and operational procedures related to working hybrid-electric propulsion methods.
“This work provides the Military a transparent path ahead in understanding how hybrid-electric applied sciences can help actual operational calls for, whereas enabling completely new logistics capabilities,” stated Donn Yates, Vice President of Authorities Applications at Electra. “Electra’s hybrid-electric Extremely-STOL plane redefines what’s doable for Military Aviation with its capacity to function from small, rugged websites, cut back gas demand, and improve flexibility for the commander.”
The flight efficiency of Electra’s EL2 prototype plane has validated ultra-short takeoffs and landings in lower than 150 toes. Electra’s Extremely-STOL plane can deploy in soccer field-size areas to execute contested logistics and help agile basing. Electra’s EL9 introduces completely new logistics capabilities for warfighters, together with the power to take off and land quietly in helicopter-sized areas in austere areas and supply cellular energy capabilities whereas retaining the protection, value, and vary advantages of a fixed-wing plane.
To maximise the worth to the U.S. Military, Electra will execute six core duties, together with a commerce examine, operational evaluation, modeling and simulation, flight take a look at, and analysis for HEPPS expertise maturation over an 18-month interval.
Electra brings unmatched management in growing, testing, and utilizing hybrid-electric applied sciences, having constructed and flown one of many world’s solely clean-sheet hybrid-electric plane – the EL2. Electra was the primary firm ever to fly the top of a U.S. authorities company as a passenger on an electrical plane when it flew the NASA Administrator on the EL2 in December 2024. Continued flight assessments of the EL2 and the continued improvement of Electra’s dual-use EL9 Extremely-STOL plane will present learnings and take a look at information, high-value actions for the U.S. Military to seize the operational advantages of hybrid-electric propulsion.
The contract demonstrates continued engagement between Electra and the U.S. Military. Thus far, the Military has awarded six contracts to Electra, supporting a spread of expertise analysis and improvement actions maturing Electra’s Extremely-STOL plane.
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