The contract allows the Army to build upon Electra’s expertise in hybrid-electric propulsion system testing and evaluation. This collaboration will help assess the technology’s ability to improve the performance and adaptability of Army aviation platforms.
Electra will focus its efforts on advancing technology and reducing risks related to hybrid-electric propulsion, specifically in the context of its EL9 aircraft. The EL9 is a nine-passenger Ultra-Short Takeoff and Landing (Ultra-STOL) aircraft currently under development.
“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. He added, “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.”
Flight tests of Electra’s EL2 prototype have demonstrated ultra-short takeoffs and landings in under 150 feet. This capability enables operations from compact areas such as soccer-field-sized spaces, ideal for contested logistics and agile basing.
The EL9 aircraft offers advanced capabilities, including quiet operation in austere environments and mobile power generation. It also retains the cost efficiency, safety, and extended range of a fixed-wing platform.
To deliver meaningful results to the Army, Electra will carry out six core tasks over an 18-month period. These include a trade study, operational analysis, modelling and simulation, as well as flight testing and technology evaluation.
Electra is recognised for its pioneering work in hybrid-electric aviation, having developed and flown the clean-sheet EL2 aircraft. In December 2024, Electra made history by flying the NASA Administrator aboard the EL2, marking the first such flight for a U.S. government agency head on an electric aircraft.
Insights and test data from continued EL2 flights and EL9 development will contribute significantly to the Army’s understanding of hybrid-electric operational advantages. The contract is the sixth awarded by the Army to Electra, reinforcing a growing partnership in advancing Ultra-STOL aircraft technology.
