• 11 Nov 2024 07:00 AM
• 0

US Army Contracts LIFT and Near Earth Autonomy for Autonomous VTOL

LIFT Aircraft, on Oct. 1, announced a $1.65M contract from the US Army Applications Laboratory (AAL) to design a medical multi-mission modular payload (shown), a container that can carry blood and conduct casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) missions. The Austin, Texas-based company has partnered with Near Earth Autonomy on autonomous flight controls for military missions. LIFT states its contract “will demonstrate the modular medical payload being transported by air and ground vehicles, including LIFT’S HEXA Cargo platform with its own uniquely modular design flown and tested by the USAF.”

LIFT says its HEXA eVTOL design complies with the FAA’s Part 103 ultralight aircraft rules and is cleared for public aircraft operations. On Aug. 1, LIFT unveiled its second-generation ultralight eVTOL, the HEXA 2, with a number of enhancements, including upgraded propellers that improve thrust, flight time and noise reduction (see “eVTOL News,” Vertiflite, Sept/Oct 2024). A total of 17 aircraft have been built to date.