South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace has signed an agreement with Vertical Aerospace to deliver the electro-mechanical actuation systems for the latter’s VX4 electric aircraft.
Finalized at the recently concluded Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition 2023, the expanded deal requires Hanwha to design, test, manufacture and supply the electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft’s tilt and blade pitch control system.
In a statement, Hanwha President and CEO Son Jae-il said the new agreement recognizes the organization’s system technology competitiveness in the future mobility field.
According to the company, it will develop actuation and mechanical systems to support Vertical’s objective of securing the most rigid global airworthiness certification standards for VX4, a one-pilot and four-passenger aircraft geared for air commercial transport service.
The EMA development program requires advanced innovation as the blade pitch control and tilt systems will be critical to the eVTOL aircraft’s fight stability, the firm added.
Upon completion of Hanwha’s technology, it will be installed on the VX4 prototype that Vertical is assembling in the United Kingdom. The eVTOL aircraft is scheduled for demonstration flights in the U.K. in 2024.
Vertical Aerospace aims to obtain certification for VX4 in late 2026 in preparation for the delivery of 1,400 units ordered by international customers, which include American Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, JAL, Avolon, Bristow and Kakao Mobility.
