The US Army has recently made a significant investment in the development of an ultra-STOL (short takeoff and landing) aircraft. Under development by Electra, the aircraft has a hybrid-electric powertrain, power, and propulsion system. The design has several unique features and capabilities that promise clear advantages over other short takeoff and landing aircraft.
Electra Receives $1.9 Million to Develop EL9 Ultra-STOL Design
On 1 July 2025, Electra received a $1.9 million Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract from the US Army to research and develop hybrid-electric powertrain, power, and propulsion systems (HEPPS). This agreement allows Electra to develop and test its EL9 ultra-short takeoff and landing (Ultra-STOL) aircraft design.
“This work gives the Army a clear path forward in understanding how hybrid-electric technologies can support real operational demands while enabling entirely new logistics capabilities,” said Donn Yates, Vice President of Government Programs at Electra.
Aircraft Will Have Eight Electric Motors Mounted on Wings
Electra is currently flight-testing its EL2 Prototype. It has eight hybrid electric motors and propellers mounted under and just forward of its high wing. The EL2 can carry just two people in the cockpit, while the larger EL9 can carry nine passengers.
The gross weight of the EL2 is 3,100 pounds. Electra plans for the EL9 to be able to carry more than 1000 pounds over 1000 miles.
EL9 to Takeoff in Less Than 150 Feet
Perhaps the EL9’s most impressive feature will be its ability to perform takeoffs and landings from airfields of less than 150 feet, which is shorter than a soccer field.
“Electra’s hybrid-electric ultra-STOL aircraft redefines what is possible for Army aviation with its ability to operate from small, rugged sites, reduce fuel demand, and increase flexibility for the commander,” said Yates.
Blown-Wing Technology the Key to Ultra-STOL Performance
A feature known as “blown-wing” technology will give the EL9 its Ultra-STOL performance. Blown-wing, or blown-lift, is an aerodynamic effect produced by accelerating air over the top of a wing. The electric motors move the air much faster over the top of the wing than air moving under it. This feature produces lift at much slower aircraft speeds than standard designs. With this configuration, the aircraft doesn’t have to rely on its forward speed alone to generate lift.
The electric motors, smaller and lighter than other powerplant types, make the blown-wing effect feasible. The idea of blown-wing technology came about in the 1960s, but it required shafts or ducted gas linked to turbine or piston engines to produce the airflow over the wing. These ideas were complicated and expensive, requiring extensive design modifications. These early concepts never made it past the prototype or low-production stages.
Electra tested this concept in a wind tunnel on a scale model 20 percent the size of the EL9. The company found that the blown wing lift was seven times as effective as an unblown wing.
EL9 to Be Quieter Than Traditional Designs
Another advantage of the Electra Ultra-STOL design is that it will be very quiet. Electra recently tested the EL2 and found that it produced about 55 decibels flying at 500 feet, while a conventional turbine-powered aircraft puts out 75 decibels. A quieter aircraft could be valuable to the Army for quiet intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.
Electra Ultra-STOL Aircraft To Generate Electricity in Remote Locations
A unique feature of the Electra EL9 Ultra-STOL aircraft, which could be especially important for the Army, will be its ability to function as an electricity power source when operating from remote or undeveloped locations. The EL9 will serve as a generator, producing more than 600 kilowatts of continuous power and even more than 1 megawatt for short bursts. This onboard capability will allow it to recharge mission-critical equipment like communications systems and drones.
The US Army is not the only organization interested in the Electra EL9 Ultra-STOL aircraft. Electra already has over 2,200 pre-orders for the EL9 from more than 50 customers worldwide. Customers are considering a variety of uses for it, such as medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) and casualty evacuation (CASEVAC).
Electra is planning for its first test flights of the full-scale EL9 in 2027.
