Brazil’s Embraer [ERJ] and Britain’s BAE Systems on Tuesday announced a joint study to explore defense applications for Eve’s electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicle including disaster relief, personnel transport, and surveillance and reconnaissance.
The study “builds on Eve’s development for the urban air mobility (UAM) market and will look at how the aircraft could provide cost-effective, sustainable, and adaptable capability as a defense variant,” Embraer’s Defense and Security business said.
Eve is an Embraer company focused on the UAM market.
Eve is in a unique position to develop and commercialize its UAM solutions globally. The electric-powered aircraft is targeted at solving urban mobility challenges including traffic congestion as well as enabling carbon-neutral aviation.
BAE Systems Air Chief Operating Officer Ian Muldowney commented that Embraer’s innovative technology will accelerate new and sustainable innovations in combination with BAE’s “extensive defense engineering and systems integration experience.”
Another announcement from Embraer shared that Eve Urban Air Mobility Solutions is set to produce the first fully-operational eVTOL aircraft in partnership with private aviation entrepreneur Kenn Ricci, co-CEO of Zanite Acquisition Corp. Eve has also announced a business combination agreement with Zanite in which Eve will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Zanite. In the second quarter of 2022, the renamed Eve Holding, Inc. will list on the New York Stock Exchange under “EVEX” and “EVEXW” when the transaction is complete.
Orders total 1,735 aircraft to date, amounting to roughly $5 billion, and deliveries will commence in 2026. The 18 operating partners who have placed orders include six fixed-wing and eight helicopter operators in addition to four ridesharing platform providers. Two of the helicopter service providers that have partnered with Eve include Avantto and Halo.
According to Zanite’s Ricci, “We selected Eve because of its simple and certifiable eVTOL design, its capital efficient approach to fleet operations, and Embraer’s global footprint that we believe will enable Eve to not only reach vehicle type certification, but to scale its manufacturing, support, and operations globally.”
BAE Systems is a strategic investor in Eve along with Azorra, Bradesco, Falko, Republic, Rolls-Royce, and SkyWest. Eve was established by Embraer as an independent company in October 2020.
Embraer will maintain about an 80 percent equity stake in the new Eve Holding.
“Embraer has contributed its UAM-related assets, employees, and IP to Eve,” Embraer said. “In addition, Embraer has granted Eve a royalty-free license to Embraer’s background IP to be used within the UAM market. The strategic alignment with Embraer provides Eve with significant cost and execution advantages relative to other UAM participants.”