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WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio – Aerospace firm Electra has developed a hybrid-electric Ultra Short Takeoff and Landing (eSTOL) aircraft with support from AFWERX.

In June 2025, President Trump issued an executive order, “Unleashing American Drone Dominance,” to accelerate domestic drone production, secure U.S. airspace and position the nation as a leader in supersonic technology. Additionally,  The order also emphasized advanced air mobility by establishing a pilot program to test electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft for cargo, defense logistics and related applications.

At the same time, the U.S. military is evaluating runway-independent aircraft capable of operating in austere and contested environments, including the Indo-Pacific. Hybrid-powered aircraft may support logistics, ship-to-shore transport, personnel recovery and other missions.

Since December 2020, Electra has received nine contracts from AFWERX. In 2023, AFWERX awarded the company a Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) of up to $85 million to develop a full-scale pre-production prototype eSTOL aircraft. The three-year contract – consisting of $30 million in Air Force SBIR and other funds as well as $55 million in private investment – supports flight testing that provides data for future military and commercial applications.

In September FY24, the Manassas, Virginia-based company successfully showcased its EL2 Goldfinch, a two-seater prototype, for AFWERX and other military stakeholders. The demonstrations at Marine Corps Air Facility Quantico and Felker Army Airfield at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, both in Virginia, highlighted the aircraft’s dual-use capabilities for logistics operations in austere environments. The flights included takeoffs and landings from grass fields, showcasing operations off-runway without the need for ground-support infrastructure. The pilot also displayed the aircraft’s low-altitude, low-speed maneuverability, further emphasizing its survivability in complex military scenarios.

This success story, which was first published in the AFWERX-SpaceWERX FY2024 Annual Report, has been updated since its initial release.

Electra is now developing the EL9, a nine-passenger aircraft. This version would be capable of carrying 1,000 lbs. over 1,000 nautical miles, and generating 600 kW of expeditionary power.

In December 2025, the company introduced Electra Defense, a business unit aimed at meeting defense mission needs with the EL9 aircraft. This aircraft can take off and land in spaces as short as 150 feet, enabling it to access helicopter-sized areas in austere or remote environments.

In September 2025, Electra participated in the at the Air Force Research Laboratory’’s Future Flag 25-3 exercise where it completed a series of government-directed tests, a milestone under its STRATFI contract with AFWERX and the Air Force. Additionally, in July,  the aerospace firm was awarded a research and development contract with the U.S. Army’s SBIR program to advance the research and development of hybrid-electric powertrain, power, and propulsion systems.

This year, Electra will continue fine tuning its EL9 for the commercial and defense markets and start flight testing in 2027. In addition to establishing its defense business, the company also has 2,200 provisional orders from more than 60 commercial customers worldwide. Providing support to the small businesses developing cutting-edge, dual-use technologies for the warfighter remains core to the AFWERX SBIR/STTR mission.

*Disclaimer: References to non-federal entities do not constitute or imply Department of War or Air Force endorsement of any company or organization.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — As on-orbit threats proliferate, the United States Space Force is working with the private sector to secure cutting-edge systems capable of deterring or countering adversaries’ aggressive or irresponsible actions in space.

The VICTUS HAZE program, launched in 2024, has engaged two space companies, True Anomaly and Rocket Lab USA, to provide the Space Force with tactically responsive space (TacRS) mission capabilities.

This success story, which was first published in the AFWERX and SpaceWERX FY 2024 Annual Report, has been updated since its initial release.

In April, Space Systems Command’s Space Safari Program Office, with funding from SpaceWERX and the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), awarded contracts to the two companies.

Under the Emergent Need Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) award, made by SSC’s Space Safari Program Office in partnership with SpaceWERX, the Space Force funded $30 million of the total $60 million effort. True Anomaly will leverage the remaining $30 million of private capital.

The second participating company, Rocket Lab, based in Long Beach, California, received $32 million in funding from DIU. The companies were each slated to demonstrate their ability to build rendezvous and proximity operation (RPO)-capable space vehicles and command and control centers, with a delivery target of fall 2025.

Once the build phase is complete, the mission will enter several successive phases, including “hot standby”—awaiting a rapid manifest and launch request.

The TacRS systems developed by these companies will position the Space Force to provide future capabilities to Combatant Commands, equipping them to conduct rapid operations in response to adversary on-orbit aggression.

The demonstration will also enable development of TacRS tactics, techniques and procedures when responding to adversary aggression on orbit.

Space Safari partnered with SpaceWERX for assistance in the technical and commercial evaluation of True Anomaly and the push for an emergent SBIR selection by Space Force leadership. Space Safari is leading the contract administration, providing programmatic oversight and will execute the mission using capabilities provided by True Anomaly.

The VICTUS HAZE program underscores the DAF’s commitment to leveraging private-sector innovation to address critical space challenges. By fostering collaboration among government organizations, industry and startups, the initiative supports the Space Force’s ability to maintain freedom of action in space.

True Anomaly began working with SpaceWERX in 2023 through the SpaceWERX TacRS Challenge, a program focused on gaining new technologies that will enable the Space Force to more rapidly and flexibly respond to emerging on-orbit threats by 2026.

*Disclaimer: References to non-federal entities do not constitute or imply Department of War or Air Force endorsement of any company or organization.