eVTOL

AIR and ST Engineering Unveil Cargo UAV for the European Market

Posted on by Techtime

AIR and Singapore-based ST Engineering announced at the Singapore Airshow the launch of a new unmanned eVTOL aircraft named DrN-600, along with a strategic partnership to market the platform across Europe and Asia. The announcement represents a significant step for both companies and positions the new aircraft as a dedicated solution for cargo and aerial logistics missions in commercial markets.

The DrN-600 is an electric aircraft with a maximum takeoff weight of 600 kilograms, designed specifically to comply with European regulatory requirements for unmanned aviation. According to the official announcement, the platform is intended for short- to medium-range flights, reliable autonomous operations, and logistics missions in remote areas or environments with limited infrastructure. It is built on AIR’s core technological architecture and integrates advanced control systems, high operational reliability, and a configuration tailored for intensive commercial use.

A central element of the announcement is the emphasis on aligning the aircraft with the standards of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Unlike conventional cargo drones, the DrN-600 was conceived from the outset as a full-fledged aviation platform, designed to undergo formal certification processes similar to those required for manned aircraft. This entails stringent requirements in areas such as system safety, reliability, redundancy, advanced autonomous control, and comprehensive engineering documentation. This approach underscores AIR’s clear intention to deliver not merely a technology demonstrator, but an industrial-grade platform capable of legal and commercial operation in European airspace.

Europe Opens Its Skies

Compared with AIR’s previous cargo variant, which was primarily aimed at the U.S. market and limited experimental or operational deployments, the DrN-600 appears to represent a significant evolution. While the earlier model focused mainly on proving feasibility and enabling initial autonomous cargo missions, the new aircraft has been designed from the ground up to meet stricter regulatory demands and operate within a fully regulated environment. This suggests enhancements in control systems, safety levels, redundancy mechanisms, and the ability to integrate with European air traffic management systems.

The decision to focus on the European market is far from coincidental. Europe is currently regarded as one of the most advanced regions in the world in terms of regulation for unmanned aircraft and aerial logistics. Many European countries are promoting legal frameworks for the operation of drones and eVTOL platforms over populated areas, while also developing dedicated infrastructure for unmanned air traffic management. For AIR, compliance with EASA requirements opens the door to a broad market of commercial operators, logistics companies, and advanced delivery service providers.

An Israeli–Singaporean Partnership

AIR was founded in Israel in 2018 and specializes in the development of advanced electric aircraft for commercial applications. In recent years, the company has completed significant funding rounds, obtained preliminary regulatory approvals in the United States, and conducted numerous flight demonstrations. AIR operates in both the autonomous cargo sector and the development of light manned aircraft, aiming to establish itself as a key player in the emerging field of advanced air mobility.

Its Singaporean partner in the project, ST Engineering, is one of the largest engineering and technology groups in Asia and globally. The company is active in aviation, defense, electronics, and transportation, and brings extensive experience in the development and maintenance of advanced aerospace systems.

As part of the collaboration, ST Engineering will contribute industrial expertise, manufacturing capabilities, and system integration resources. It will also work to incorporate its DroNet ground control system into the new platform. The partnership with ST Engineering and the launch of the DrN-600 signal AIR’s transition from technological innovation to global commercialization. If the aircraft delivers on its regulatory and operational promises, it could become one of the first platforms to bring autonomous, electric aerial logistics to widespread commercial use in Europe.

AIR Secures $23M as U.S. Opens Skies to Next-Gen Aircraft

Posted on by Techtime

Pictured above: The AIR One Cargo model for unmanned cargo transport

Israeli aerospace startup AIR, which develops eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) aircraft for cargo and personal transportation, has raised $23 million in a new funding round led by Entrée Capital, with participation from Dr. Shmuel Harlap, an early investor in both Mobileye and AIR. The funding will accelerate AIR’s commercial expansion in the United States, the company’s main target market, where it also plans to establish a production line. According to AIR, it expects to deliver around 15 unmanned cargo aircraft within the next year, and has already received about 2,500 non-binding preorders for its personal eVTOL.

In early July, AIR inaugurated a manufacturing and assembly facility in Gedera, Israel, capable of assembling up to six aircraft simultaneously.

The company views recent U.S. regulatory reforms as a key catalyst for growth in the advanced aviation industry. On July 11, 2025, President Donald Trump signed a sweeping executive order aimed at accelerating the integration of autonomous aviation technologies – including drones and eVTOLs – into U.S. airspace. The order includes the launch of a national eVTOL Integration Pilot Program, under which at least five projects will be selected to explore advanced civil applications: urban air taxis, emergency medical deliveries, rural transportation access, and AI-driven logistics services.

On July 22, 2025, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced a new regulatory framework issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as part of the MOSAIC (Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification) reform. This initiative is intended to advance Light Sport Aviation (LSA). The reform removes outdated weight limits, expands the LSA category to include higher-performance aircraft with additional seats and advanced technologies, and will allow two-seat eVTOLs – such as AIR’s – to operate under the LSA category.

Potential for 15,000 Aircraft Per Year

AIR believes that its personal eVTOL aircraft complies with the new LSA standards and could be among the first vehicles certified under this category in the U.S. The AIR ONE platform is an all-electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft designed with four dual propellers in a drone-like configuration, and short fixed wings for efficient forward cruising. Its battery system is developed and manufactured by Amisel, based in Ashdod, Israel.

Designed for personal use, the vehicle weighs approximately 970 kg and can carry two passengers or up to 250 kg over short distances of up to 180 km, at a top airspeed of 250 km/h. It is intended to function as a personal transportation solution, similar to a car, for daily commuting above traffic. The aircraft is sized to fit in a home garage or standard parking spot. According to AIR’s estimates, the U.S. market potential could reach up to 15,000 vehicles annually. The company has also developed an unmanned cargo version, called AirCargo, for logistics applications.

AIR Begins Production at New Plant in Israel to Meet Growing Demand to its eVTOL

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[Image: AIR’s cargo drone, AIR One Cargo, on display]

AIR, the developer of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for civilian and logistics use, has inaugurated a new production and assembly plant in Pardes Hanna, Israel. Spanning 3,000 square meters, the facility will allow simultaneous assembly of up to six aircraft and marks AIR’s transition to commercial-scale serial manufacturing. The move is aimed at accelerating the delivery of its growing order backlog across the personal air mobility, transportation, and defense sectors.

According to AIR, the site is a state-of-the-art manufacturing center featuring a final assembly line, an engineering lab, a composite materials workshop, a metalworks division, and more. The plant will also serve as a launchpad for AIR’s planned U.S.-based facility, which will include an automated production line. The site will be managed by Roy Peleg, AIR’s Chief Operating Officer. Recently, AIR announced a partnership with German engineering firm EDAG for production of the aircraft chassis, and completed a nighttime field test of its cargo model in northern Israel.

The AIR ONE platform falls into the eVTOL category, using four dual-propellers in a drone-like configuration combined with short fixed wings for horizontal flight. Its battery system is developed and manufactured by Amicell, an Israeli company based in Ashdod. Weighing approximately 970 kilograms, the aircraft is designed for personal use and can carry two passengers (or a payload of up to 250 kg) over short distances of up to 180 kilometers, with a maximum cruising speed of 250 km/h. It is envisioned as a personal transport solution akin to a car—intended, for example, for daily commutes above urban traffic congestion. Its compact size allows it to be stored in a standard garage or parking space.

According to AIR’s estimates, the U.S. market has the potential for 15,000 vehicles sold per year. In addition to the manned model, the company has also developed an unmanned cargo version, AIR One Cargo, designed specifically for freight delivery.