2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Raytheon Technologies is the lead investor in a $12 million Series A funding round for hybrid-electric propulsion specialist VerdeGo Aero. The U.S. group’s venture capital arm, RTX Ventures, announced the investment this week, saying the Florida-based start-up will collaborate with its aircraft engines subsidiary Pratt &amp; Whitney to develop propulsion systems for advanced air mobility (AAM) applications.
Last year, VerdeGo Aero introduced its <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-05-19/h55-supply-battery-system-pratt-whitneys-hybrid-electric-regional-aircraft">185-kW VH-3 generator</a>, which can be combined with various hybrid-electric configurations to deliver peak-burst power of up to 1MW and continuous power of up to 370 kW. The company’s propulsion systems have been selected for applications including <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-06-08/electra-and-airflow-join-forces-bring-estol-aircraft-family-market">Airflow’s eSTOL</a> aircraft, Jaunt Air Mobility’s <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2020-12-17/verdego-helps-jaunt-boost-range-hybrid-electric-generator">Journey eVTOL vehicle</a>, and XTI’s TriFan 600. 
According to VerdeGo Aero, the technology could possibly&nbsp;be scaled up to deliver&nbsp;a continuous electrical output of “multiple megawatts,” opening the potential to power larger aircraft, like those in the business aviation and airline sectors served by Pratt &amp; Whitney. The partnership is expected to provide support in efforts to develop and commercialize third-generation full-scale hybrid-electric powertrains.
“VerdeGo Aero is helping to pioneer the emerging field of hybrid-electric propulsion technology, which has an important role to play in enabling the aviation industry’s goal of reaching net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050,” said Pratt &amp; Whitney’s chief sustainability officer, Graham Webb. “This investment has promising potential to enhance our technology and capability in segments of our small-engine business while moving quickly and nimbly to advance our hybrid-electric propulsion strategy.”
In combination with the National Research Council of Canada and battery specialist H55, Pratt &amp; Whitney is already working on plans for a <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-05-19/h55-supply-battery-system-pratt-whitneys-hybrid-electric-regional-aircraft">hybrid-electric regional airliner</a>. It aims to start ground testing on a Dash 8 100 aircraft next year and to be ready for flight tests in 2024.
According to VerdeGo Aero CEO Eric Bartsch, the company, which was founded in 2017, seeks to convert existing aircraft engines into hybrid powerplants. With stronger capital reserves, the company is recruiting more engineers to join its team in Daytona Beach.
&nbsp;

Managing Editor

Charles Alcock

Raytheon Backs VerdeGo Aero for Hybrid-Electric Propulsion Alliance with Pratt & Whitney

New developments and products in avionics, specifically about aircraft electronics in the cockpit.

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

Raytheon: Retaining Unparalleled Situational Awareness - Sponsor Content

Chris Pocock

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

Raytheon has proposed that 10 European warships be equipped with the company’s standard SM-3 missile, so that the burden of providing a missile defense shi

Raytheon Pitches SM-3 to European Countries for Ballistic Missile Defense

Bill Carey

Raytheon will market the <a href="news/single-news-page/article/paris-2011-iron-dome-quickly-proves-its-worth-30050/">Rafael Iron Dome</a> mobile air defen

Raytheon To Market Israeli Defense System in US

David Donald

Raytheon last week completed the acquisition of the key business assets of Ktech, an Albuquerque, New Mexico-based company that specializes in pulsed power

RTX

News

Raytheon Backs VerdeGo Aero for Hybrid-Electric Propulsion Alliance with Pratt & Whitney

Raytheon: Retaining Unparalleled Situational Awareness - Sponsor Content

Raytheon Pitches SM-3 to European Countries for Ballistic Missile Defense

Raytheon To Market Israeli Defense System in US

Paris 2011: Ktech Acquisition Boosts Raytheon’s Capability in Directed-energy Weapons

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN