The U.S. Navy’s Office of Naval Research (ONR) has awarded Skydweller Aero Inc., the American arm of the aerospace company, a $1.4 million contract to develop next-generation electric propulsion systems. The award comes as Skydweller has been demonstrating its ultra-long-endurance, solar-electric aircraft for potential naval missions.
In a move that signals growing military interest in sustainable, persistent aviation, the U.S. Navy is investing in the electric future of flight. The service’s Office of Naval Research (ONR) has awarded Skydweller Aero Inc. a contract worth $1.4 million to advance next-generation electric propulsion technology for all-electric aircraft. This development contract, reported by the company, directly supports the Navy’s exploration of unmanned platforms capable of extremely long endurance for missions like maritime surveillance and communications relay.
The contract, awarded on December 23, is focused on maturing the core technology that could power a new class of military aircraft. While specific technical details remain under wraps, the work will involve developing and testing advanced electric propulsion systems designed for high efficiency and reliability. This aligns perfectly with Skydweller’s flagship product: a large, unmanned aircraft designed to fly for months at a time using a combination of solar power and innovative electric drivetrain technology.
READ ALSO: https://modernmechanics24.com/post/stryker-brigade-new-30mm-live-fire/
For the U.S. Navy, the appeal is clear. Operating vast expanses of ocean requires persistent “eyes in the sky,” but traditional manned aircraft and even most drones are limited by fuel. An ultra-long-endurance electric aircraft, essentially a pseudo-satellite that operates in the atmosphere, could provide a cheaper, more flexible, and rapidly redeployable alternative for continuous monitoring. Skydweller’s aircraft has been undergoing flight testing and demonstrations for the Navy, showcasing its potential to loiter over regions of interest for unprecedented durations.
“The U.S. Navy’s commitment to electric propulsion is a significant step toward transforming maritime patrol and ISR [Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance],” said an aerospace analyst familiar with the program. “Contracts like this with Skydweller U.S. help de-risk the technology and accelerate its path to operational capability.” The $1.4 million ONR award falls under the category of a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II contract, which is typically granted to refine technologies that have shown initial promise in earlier phases.
WATCH ALSO: https://modernmechanics24.com/post/chinese-company-new-humanlike-robot/
This award is more than just a single contract; it’s a marker of the Pentagon’s broader shift. The Department of Defense is actively pursuing electrification across its vehicle fleets to reduce reliance on vulnerable fuel supply lines and enhance operational flexibility. Success in developing a robust, high-power electric propulsion system for aircraft could have ripple effects, influencing future designs for everything from vertical-takeoff drones to next-generation transport aircraft.
For Skydweller, a company with dual headquarters in Oklahoma City, USA, and Madrid, Spain, the Navy contract represents a critical validation of its technology and a vote of confidence from one of the world’s most demanding customers. As the company continues its flight demonstrations, this funding will fuel the engineering needed to turn its vision of perpetual flight into a practical tool for naval operations, potentially changing how the Navy patrols the seas.
READ ALSO: https://modernmechanics24.com/post/frog-gut-bacterium-cures-cancer-tumors/
