9-Passenger Hybrid-Electric Aircraft Could Fly Near-Silent US Missions

9-passenger hybrid-electric aircraft could fly near-silent US missions

A nine-seat hybrid-electric aircraft will undergo US Air Force tests to assess its performance, quiet flight and military applications.

Electra Defense Receives $4.7 Million US Air Force Contract for EL9 Testing

Electra Defense has received a $4.7 million contract from the US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to test hybrid-electric propulsion and assess the operational potential of its EL9 Ultra-Short Takeoff and Landing (Ultra-STOL) aircraft for military missions. The contract will fund a programme of ground and flight testing, with the aim of generating performance data

Electra Defense reports further development contract award from US Air Force’s AFRL

Electra Defense today announced it has received a USD4.7 million innovative capabilities opening (ICO) contract award from the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to advance hybrid-electric aircraft power and propulsion technologies through a comprehensive program of ground testing and flight testing. “The ICO will support testing and evaluation of Electra’s EL9 aircraft and its hybrid-electric propulsion systems, generating critical performance data to help the U.S. Air Force assess the potential of next-generation ultra-short takeoff and landing (Ultra-STOL) aircraft for military operations,” said the company in a press release. “The effort will also examine how hybrid-electric aviation can expand operational access, strengthen distributed logistics, and support the Air Force’s Agile Combat Employment (ACE) doctrine.” In 2023, Electra received a Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) award valued at up to USD85 million to support development of its full-scale preproduction aircraft. That collaboration has since included flight demonstrations and government-directed testing, most recently during AFRL’s Future Flag 25-3 exercise in 2025, where Electra demonstrated the potential of Ultra-STOL aircraft and hybrid-electric propulsion to support runway-independent distributed military operations and mobile power generation, said the company. Under the contract, Electra will conduct a series of technical evaluations focused on aircraft performance, hybrid-electric propulsion system functionality, and operational effectiveness. The effort includes verification of key hybrid-electric power and propulsion technologies, extensive ground testing of the EL9 preproduction aircraft, and acoustic flight testing to characterize the ability to conduct battery-only low-signature ingress and egress for special operations missions. The program will also evaluate the potential operational advantages of hybrid-electric ultra-STOL aircraft through modeling and simulation, including their ability to operate from a wider range of locations, support the rapid dispersal of personnel and time-sensitive cargo, and reduce dependence on traditional aviation infrastructure and ground support equipment. The findings will help inform future Air Force technology development and acquisition decisions. For more information https://electra.aero/news/us-air-force-awards-electra-defense-47-million-rd-contract-for-hybrid-electric-aircraft-testing (Image: Electra)