KAI inks $723 mn eVTOL aircraft parts deal with Brazil’s Eve

Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. (KAI), the country’s sole military aircraft manufacturer, said it signed a 1 trillion won ($723 million) deal to sell parts for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft to a Brazilian company, expanding its business in the private sector.

KAI said on Monday it agreed with Eve Air Mobility, a subsidiary of Brazilian aerospace company Embraer S.A., to supply pylons, a key component of its eVTOLs, which provide support for the aircraft’s electric power and eight lift propellers. The South Korean company is set to supply the parts until the customer stops producing the eco-friendly aircraft.

KAI aims to advance its production capabilities for the future autonomous aerial vehicle (AAV) sector and expand its presence in the global private aircraft through the deal.

“We will strengthen global competitiveness in the AAV sector by succeeding in the development and mass production of eVTOLs based on the design and manufacturing technology of civil aircraft structures accumulated over the past 30 years,” said KAI CEO Kang Goo-young.

The manufacturer of South Korea’s first homegrown supersonic fighter jet KF-21 earlier this year said it plans to invest 150 billion won in the AAV development.

FOR COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS IN 2026

Eve is developing an eVTOL for commercial operations in 2026 that can fly up to 100 kilometers (62.1 miles) carrying six passengers including a pilot, according to KAI.

The urban air mobility (UAM) infrastructure provider has already secured orders for 2,850 units of the eVTOL, which will be used as an air taxi in the US and Brazil, KAI said.

Eve has inked deals to procure other parts for the eVTOL with various companies. BAE Systems plc is set to supply the energy storage system, while Liebherr-Aerospace is slated to provide the flight control actuators, for example, according to Eve.

KAI has already supplied major aerostructure components to global aircraft manufacturers such as Embraer for its E-Jet E2, a medium-range twinjet airliner.

Write to Sang Hoon Sung at uphoon@hankyung.com
 
Jongwoo Cheon edited this article.