MANASSAS, Va - Electra.aero, Inc. (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.
Donn Yates, Vice President of Government Programs at Electra said, "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. 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.
