Electra has successfully conducted another army flight demonstration with its pioneering hybrid-electric prototype aircraft. The demonstration flights have been a part of the Thunderstorm 24-4 “Expeditionary Operations” know-how showcase sponsored by the Workplace of the Underneath Secretary of Protection for Analysis and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)) in early November. The exclusive subject matter expertise presentation, Thunderstorm 24/4, showcased Electra’s unique dual-use technologies, which enable the effective distributed operations of military forces in contested environments?

Throughout the three-day event, Electra’s EL2 prototype aircraft conducted multiple stay-over flights, offering Defence Department attendees from all branches and venture capital investors a unique, up-close experience of its exceptionally low acoustic signature capabilities. The EL2 demonstration starkly highlighted the revolutionary quietness of its all-electric mode, juxtaposing it vividly with the typical noise levels of a conventional aircraft.

As the Chief of Test and Analysis for AFWERX, Hank Griffiths highlighted the organization’s commitment to incorporating customer feedback from the EL2 demonstration into its development of the nine-passenger EL9 aircraft for Electra. The EL2 aircraft’s involvement in the Thunderstorm exercise showcased Electra’s capabilities to develop a cutting-edge, dual-purpose logistics-enabler that can seamlessly transition between quiet, expeditionary missions and other operational scenarios. “The next step is to demonstrate how these capabilities can be scaled to accommodate a fleet of 9-passenger aircraft.”

Electra’s EL2 aircraft successfully reduced overflight noise levels to approximately 55 decibels at 500 feet, compared to the 75 decibels generated by a conventional turbine-powered plane flying at the same altitude and trajectory. With its more subdued acoustic profile, combined with the versatility of a hybrid-electric propulsion system and optimized payload capacity, this aircraft is well-suited for conducting covert operations with increased likelihood of success.

During the demonstration, the aircraft showcased its adaptability across various mission sets, including MEDEVAC, CASEVAC, and low-observable intelligence surveillance reconnaissance, while also showcasing the capability to deploy equipment at the edge via a mobile power generator. The Electra EL9 manufacturing plane is designed to generate more than 600 kilowatts of stable power, as well as exceed 1 megawatt for short periods, without the need for recharging or any supporting infrastructure. This feature enables remote recharging of critical communication equipment and small unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in isolated locations.

The Thunderstorm Flights strictly adhere to the guidelines of the initial three U.S. authorities flight demonstrations in 2024. At a June event, Electra showcased the EL2 prototype’s remarkably short takeoff and landing capabilities at Marine Corps Air Facility Quantico, with subsequent demonstrations taking place in July at Felker Military Airfield on Joint Base Langley-Eustis, as well as at NASA’s Langley Analysis Center.

Electra has recently unveiled the design for its EL9 manufacturing aircraft, with FAA certification expected by 2029. AFWERX Agility Prime has secured a significant strategic funding partnership, estimated at up to $85 million in 2023, to propel the development of a cutting-edge, full-scale contested logistics aircraft.