Companies to Assess EVE Aircraft’s Military Potential

Embraer and BAE Systems have announced a partnership to evaluate the EVE urban air mobility platform’s potential military applications.

EVE is an electric vertical take-off and landing (EVTOL) aircraft being manufactured by Eve UAM LLC. The company, which will list on the New York Stock Exchange next year (pending regulatory approval), is 82% owned by Embraer. The platform is being developed to address the emerging market in UAM, or so-called ‘flying taxis’. The joint study programme will see BAE invest $10million (€8.86million) in the Eve business.

The work will help Embraer’s São José dos Campos-based defence and security team, and the Eve company, develop new markets for the technology, while BAE’s Air division staff  will gain insights and experience that will assist with their drive towards sustainable technology development. The anticipated benefits to military customers include the ability to carry out short-range ISR, equipment resupply and HADR missions with a reduced carbon footprint and at lower cost versus using current rotary-wing platforms.

“This collaboration with one of the leading defence companies in the world on this exciting and game-changing technology is in line with our goal to establish strategic partnerships,” said Jackson Schneider, President and CEO, Embraer Defence & Security. “We look forward to exploring more ways our two organisations can work together and benefit from those rich experiences and reputations. The collaboration allows us to tap into talent from across the globe in our shared interest to develop innovative and sustainable solutions for the skies.”

“Bringing together Embraer’s innovative technology in the commercial sector with our extensive defence engineering and systems integration experience will help us to accelerate the pace of new innovations,” added Ian Muldowney, COO of BAE’s Air business. “This joint study is a great example of how we’re delivering against our commitment to collaborate to explore new and sustainable technologies for our customers.”