Electra to partner with the U.S. Army to explore the operational benefits of hybrid-electric propulsion on fuel demand, range, and new mission capabilities for current and future aircraft
Electra was awarded a $1.9 million Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract by the U.S. Army to advance the research and development of hybrid-electric powertrain, power, and propulsion systems (HEPPS).
The award enables the U.S. Army to leverage Electra’s technical leadership in developing and testing hybrid-electric propulsion systems and evaluating its potential to improve the effectiveness of current and future Army aircraft platforms.
Under the agreement, Electra will conduct a comprehensive series of technology maturation and risk reduction activities for hybrid-electric propulsion related to its EL9, a nine-passenger ultra-short takeoff and landing (Ultra-STOL) aircraft currently in development. As a result, Electra will deliver valuable insights and test data to help the Army understand the benefits, trade-offs, and operational procedures associated with operating hybrid-electric propulsion systems.
“This work gives the Army a clear path forward in understanding how hybrid-electric technologies can support real operational demands, while enabling entirely new logistics capabilities,” said Donn Yates, Vice President of Government Programs at Electra. “Electra’s hybrid-electric Ultra-STOL aircraft redefines what’s possible for Army Aviation with its ability to operate from small, rugged sites, reduce fuel demand, and increase flexibility for the commander.”
The flight performance of Electra’s EL2 prototype aircraft has validated ultra-short takeoffs and landings in less than 150 feet. Electra’s Ultra-STOL aircraft can deploy in soccer field-size spaces to execute contested logistics and support agile basing. Electra’s EL9 introduces entirely new logistics capabilities for warfighters, including the ability to take off and land quietly in helicopter-sized spaces in austere areas and provide mobile power capabilities while retaining the safety, cost, and range benefits of a fixed-wing aircraft.
To maximize the value to the U.S. Army, Electra will execute six core tasks, including a trade study, operational analysis, modeling and simulation, flight test, and evaluation for HEPPS technology maturation over an 18-month period.
Electra brings unmatched leadership in developing, testing, and using hybrid-electric technologies, having built and flown one of the world’s only clean-sheet hybrid-electric aircraft – the EL2. Electra was the first company ever to fly the head of a U.S. government agency as a passenger on an electric aircraft when it flew the NASA Administrator on the EL2 in December 2024. Continued flight tests of the EL2 and the ongoing development of Electra’s dual-use EL9 Ultra-STOL aircraft will provide learnings and test data, high-value activities for the U.S. Army to capture the operational benefits of hybrid-electric propulsion.
The contract demonstrates continued engagement between Electra and the U.S. Army. To date, the Army has awarded six contracts to Electra, supporting a range of technology research and development activities maturing Electra’s Ultra-STOL aircraft.
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