Hanwha, U.K.'s Vertical Aerospace sign MOU on UAM

Industry

Published: 20 Jun. 2023, 17:26

Hanwha, U.K.'s Vertical Aerospace sign MOU on UAM

Stephen Fitzpatrick, left, Vertical Aerospace CEO, and Hanwha Aerospace CEO Son Jae-il pose for a photo after signing a memorandum of understanding for an aerial vehicle development project. [HANWHA AEROSPACE]

Hanwha Aerospace will supply air taxi components to Vertical Aerospace, a British urban air mobility (UAM) developer, the local company said Tuesday.

Hanwha Aerospace and Vertical Aerospace signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Monday during the Paris Air Show, a biennial aviation and space tech fair.

With the signing of the MOU, Hanwha will supply tilting and blade pitch systems for Vertical Aerospace’s VX4, a four-seater electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft.

A tilting and blade pitch system, as Vertical Aerospace calls it, is an essential component in an aircraft that transmits the force from a motor to a propeller and controls the flight direction and thrust of the aerial vehicle.

Hanwha Aerospace previously signed a $165 million deal with Vertical Aerospace in August last year, to supply actuators for the VX4.

“We plan to further bolster our collaboration with Vertical Aerospace, a global UAM developer, and expand the future mobility business using our capabilities in aerospace technology accumulated for the past 40 years and more,” said Hanwha Aerospace CEO Son Jae-il.

Vertical's VX4 is currently under development with the aim of being certified by 2026.

Vertical Aerospace is a member of a UAM consortium for a Korean government-backed project, which includes Kakao Mobility and LG U+.

This year’s Paris Air Show runs from Monday to Sunday.

BY SHIN HA-NEE [shin.hanee@joongang.co.kr]