Electra Lands US$1.9 Million US Army Deal for eSTOL Testing

Electra has secured a US$1.9 million Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract from the U.S. Army to perform wind tunnel testing on its hybrid-electric short takeoff and landing (eSTOL) aircraft. This initiative is designed to assess Electra’s groundbreaking blown wing technology, which is expected to enhance military logistics by providing low-fuel, resilient operations in challenging environments.

The contract will allow the Army to investigate the capabilities of Electra’s eSTOL aircraft, which merges the operational agility of a helicopter with the efficiency and performance of a fixed-wing aircraft. The eSTOL’s design includes blown lift technology and eight distributed electric motors that significantly increase wing lift, enabling the aircraft to operate from extremely short runways, including areas as small as a football field.

Equipped with a hybrid-electric propulsion system, the aircraft is engineered to reduce both noise and fuel consumption compared to traditional airplanes and helicopters, offering a range of over 1,000 miles without needing battery recharging stations, as reported by A21.

Ben Marchionna, Electra’s Director of Technology and Innovation, highlighted the importance of matching aircraft size to specific mission payloads, which can significantly decrease fuel consumption—a crucial factor in conflict zones where existing military logistics systems often operate inefficiently.

Marchionna expressed excitement about working with the Army to advance this vital technology for national security. He noted that the wind tunnel tests will contribute to Electra’s aerodynamic database, aiding in performance analysis, simulation, and control system development.