Electra.aero, Inc. (Electra) has completed another military flight demonstration of its hybrid-electric prototype aircraft. The demonstration flights were part of the Thunderstorm 24-4 “Expeditionary Operations” technology showcase sponsored by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)) in early November.
An invitation-only field technology showcase, Thunderstorm 24-4 highlighted Electra’s unique dual-use technologies that support distributed operations of military forces in contested areas.
During the three-day event, Electra’s EL2 prototype aircraft conducted live overflights, offering hundreds of DoD attendees from all branches and venture capital investors a firsthand experience of its low acoustic signature. The EL2 demonstration showcased the aircraft’s ultra-quiet all-electric mode compared with a conventional aircraft.
Hank Griffiths, AFWERX Chief of Test and Evaluation, emphasized AFWERX’s role in incorporating customer feedback from the EL2 demonstration into Electra’s 9-passenger EL9 aircraft. “The EL2 aircraft’s participation at Thunderstorm demonstrated Electra’s ability to create a novel, dual-use, logistics-enabling aircraft that is also capable of quiet, expeditionary operations,” Griffiths said. “The next step is to demonstrate how these capabilities can scale with their 9-passenger aircraft.”
Electra’s EL2 validated an overflight noise level of approximately 55 dB at 500 ft, compared with 75 dB from a conventional turbine aircraft flying at the same altitude and flight path. This quieter acoustic signature, paired with hybrid-electric range and payload performance, enables tactically relevant missions with enhanced survivability.
The demonstration also highlighted the aircraft’s versatility across multiple missions such as MEDEVAC, CASEVAC, and quiet ISR, as well as the ability to charge equipment at the edge as a mobile power generator. Electra’s EL9 production aircraft will offer over 600 kW of continuous power and more than 1 MW for short bursts with no charging or infrastructure required. This enables recharging of essential communications equipment and small UAS operations in remote locations.
The Thunderstorm flights follow three earlier U.S. government flight demonstrations in 2024. In June, Electra demonstrated the EL2 prototype’s ultra short takeoff and landing capability at Marine Corps Air Facility Quantico, followed by demonstrations in July at Felker Army Airfield at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, and at NASA’s Langley Research Center.
Electra recently announced the design of its EL9 production aircraft, with FAA certification expected in 2029. AFWERX Agility Prime awarded the company a strategic funding partnership valued up to $85 million in 2023 to develop the full-scale contested logistics aircraft.
About Electra
Electra.aero, Inc. (Electra) is a next-gen aerospace company pioneering Direct Aviation, the next level of connectivity that will bring air travel closer to where we live, work, and play. The company is building clean tech, hybrid-electric Ultra Short airplanes that fly people and cargo seamlessly without airports, emissions, or noise.
Electra’s Ultra Short technology delivers 2.5x the payload and 10x longer range with 70% lower operating costs than helicopters and eVTOLs with far less certification risk. Electra’s team includes some of the most respected and successful entrepreneurs and engineers in novel aircraft design, with over 40 prior aircraft successfully developed and/or certified. Lockheed Martin Ventures, Honeywell, and Safran are among Electra’s strategic investors along with the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC), Statkraft Ventures, and other private investors. Electra’s contracted customers include NASA, the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Army, and the U.S. Navy, along with over 2,000 aircraft under Letters of Intent from 50+ commercial customers, including both airlines and helicopter operators.
About AFRL
The Air Force Research Laboratory is the primary scientific research and development center for the Department of the Air Force. AFRL plays an integral role in leading the discovery, development, and integration of affordable warfighting technologies for our air, space and cyberspace force. With a workforce of more than 12,500 across nine technology areas and 40 other operations across the globe, AFRL provides a diverse portfolio of science and technology ranging from fundamental to advanced research and technology development.
About AFWERX
As the innovation arm of the DAF and a directorate within the Air Force Research Laboratory, AFWERX brings cutting-edge American ingenuity from small businesses and start-ups to address the most pressing challenges of the DAF. AFWERX employs approximately 370 military, civilian and contractor personnel at five hubs and sites executing an annual $1.4 billion budget. Since 2019, AFWERX has executed over 6,200 new contracts worth more than $4.7 billion to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base and drive faster technology transition to operational capability.
