Photo: Beta Technologies
The time when new-generation, battery-electric aircraft will participate alongside their conventional counterparts in military missions is almost here. The Army has supported multiple eVTOL makers through AFWERX partnerships under the Agility Prime program, and Beta Technologies is one of the most successful.
This recent week-long military mission assessment was probably one of the greatest moments in Beta Technologies' history so far. The Alia cTOL (which is the conventional takeoff and landing version of its all-electric aircraft) did what no other similar electric aircraft has done before; it became the first of its kind to take an active part in a live Agile Combat Employment (ACE) scenario.
The exercise took place at the Savannah Combat Readiness Training Center and involved more than 350 Airmen from six different states. It was a complex Air National Guard exercise divided into multiple smaller ones connected to various missions. The Airmen had to simulate attack and casualty and relocate to bases as quickly as possible without central command. In addition to their standard flying machines, they had access to an electric aircraft – the Alia cTOL.
During the ACE exercise, the Alia acted mainly as a cargo alternative. It played the main part in transporting essential supplies and short-notice medical evacuations. All in all, it successfully completed 16 sorties over the course of five days, operating between Savannah and three neighboring locations.
Alia's participation confirmed that electric aircraft could have a significant impact on multiple military operations in terms of speed, efficiency, and costs. Electric aircraft such as Alia could support military missions just as well, if not faster than conventional aircraft while needing fewer resources and costing less to operate and maintain.
Beta is, by now, a long-term participant in the Agility Prime program. During this time, Alia became the first electric aircraft to obtain an airworthiness certificate from the military for piloted flight and the only one to conduct piloted evaluation flights with Army and Air Force test pilots. Now, it has added participation in a live ACE exercise to this impressive list of accomplishments.
At the same time, the Vermont-based eVTOL maker is gearing up for civilian market success with its Alia eVTOL. If that wasn't enough, it's also one of the pioneers of dedicated eVTOL infrastructure. Beta is working hard at setting up a nationwide electric charging network for aircraft, and it has come incredibly far.
After all this hard work, Beta is finally close to the finish line, which will actually be the beginning of commercial service. The Alia cTOL is expected to break the ice as soon as next year, followed by the eVTOL version a year later. All Alia aircraft will be manufactured at Beta's new facility in South Burlington, Vermont, covering nearly 200,000 square feet (18,580 square meters).
The exercise took place at the Savannah Combat Readiness Training Center and involved more than 350 Airmen from six different states. It was a complex Air National Guard exercise divided into multiple smaller ones connected to various missions. The Airmen had to simulate attack and casualty and relocate to bases as quickly as possible without central command. In addition to their standard flying machines, they had access to an electric aircraft – the Alia cTOL.
During the ACE exercise, the Alia acted mainly as a cargo alternative. It played the main part in transporting essential supplies and short-notice medical evacuations. All in all, it successfully completed 16 sorties over the course of five days, operating between Savannah and three neighboring locations.
Alia's participation confirmed that electric aircraft could have a significant impact on multiple military operations in terms of speed, efficiency, and costs. Electric aircraft such as Alia could support military missions just as well, if not faster than conventional aircraft while needing fewer resources and costing less to operate and maintain.
Beta is, by now, a long-term participant in the Agility Prime program. During this time, Alia became the first electric aircraft to obtain an airworthiness certificate from the military for piloted flight and the only one to conduct piloted evaluation flights with Army and Air Force test pilots. Now, it has added participation in a live ACE exercise to this impressive list of accomplishments.
At the same time, the Vermont-based eVTOL maker is gearing up for civilian market success with its Alia eVTOL. If that wasn't enough, it's also one of the pioneers of dedicated eVTOL infrastructure. Beta is working hard at setting up a nationwide electric charging network for aircraft, and it has come incredibly far.
After all this hard work, Beta is finally close to the finish line, which will actually be the beginning of commercial service. The Alia cTOL is expected to break the ice as soon as next year, followed by the eVTOL version a year later. All Alia aircraft will be manufactured at Beta's new facility in South Burlington, Vermont, covering nearly 200,000 square feet (18,580 square meters).
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