BAE Systems and Embraer Defense & Security announced plans to embark on a joint study to explore the development of the Eve electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle (eVTOL) for the defense and security market.
The joint study builds on Eve’s development for the urban air mobility market and will analyze how the aircraft could provide a cost-effective, sustainable and adaptable capability as a defense variant.
#NEWS: @BAESystemsplc and #Embraer to explore potential defense variants for the @EveAirMobility eVTOL aircraft. Read full news: https://t.co/teF2grRB7T #EmbraerStories #WeAreEmbraer pic.twitter.com/3WQ2jfijMB
— Embraer (@embraer) December 21, 2021
The U.K. defense giant decided to invest $10 million in EVE. In addition, BAE Systems’ air sector engineers in Lancashire (UK) will work together with Embraer’s Defense and Security team, based in São José dos Campos (Brazil), to explore how a defense variant could be used for a range of applications such as personnel transport, surveillance and reconnaissance, disaster relief and humanitarian response.
Eve’s eVTOL could help transform defense operations, while reducing their environmental impact, at a much lower operational cost than current platforms.
«This collaboration with one of the world’s leading defense companies on this exciting and revolutionary technology is in line with our goal of establishing strategic partnerships. We look forward to exploring more ways in which our two organizations can work together and benefit from these rich experiences and reputations. Collaboration allows us to leverage talent from around the world in our shared interest to develop innovative and sustainable solutions for the skies,» said Jackson Schneider, president and CEO of Embraer Defence & Security.
Ian Muldowney, chief operating officer of BAE Systems’ air sector, said, «Bringing together Embraer’s innovative technology in the commercial sector with our extensive experience in defense engineering and systems integration will help us accelerate the pace of new innovations. This joint study is a great example of how we are delivering on our commitment to collaborate to explore new and sustainable technologies for our customers.»
The all-electric aircraft is part of Embraer’s commitment towards more sustainable aviation and has emerged from Eve (an Embraer company), an independent company dedicated to accelerating the global urban air mobility (UAM) ecosystem. The joint study directly supports BAE Systems’ strategy to accelerate the development of sustainable technologies through increased investment in research and development, as well as collaboration with industry partners, SMEs and academia.
