BETA Technologies (NYSE:BETA), an aerospace and defense company, today unveiled the MV250 at the Farnborough International Airshow. The MV250 is an autonomous hybrid-electric vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft giving military operators greater range, higher speed, increased payload capability and lower operating costs for contested on- and off-airport logistics.

"The basic physics of the MV250 enable significantly longer range, higher speed and a lower cost of operations when compared to tiltrotor and legacy platforms. I believe we should be offering our military the most robust and best equipment in the world to maintain superiority and thus deterrence," said Kyle Clark, Founder and CEO of BETA Technologies. "MV250 uses advanced airframes and technologies we at BETA have spent years flying and combines them with exceptional products from GE Aerospace and Sikorsky. The combination gives commanders a highly available, adaptable platform that can evolve as operational needs change, all at a lower procurement cost and a lower logistics tail." The MV250 has a reposition range of 1,300 nautical miles and carries a 2,000-pound payload within a tactical range of 250 nautical miles while delivering greater speed and higher operational availability. By combining hybrid-electric propulsion with a simplified aircraft architecture, the platform reduces maintenance and sustainment requirements while expanding commanders' ability to quickly move equipment, munitions, medical supplies, and critical cargo across dispersed operating environments at a low cost.

The MV250 reflects a fundamental shift in how military aircraft can be developed and fielded. Rather than beginning with a clean-sheet defense program, BETA built on the success, simplicity and common architecture already flying in its ALIA VTOL aircraft platform, which exhibits flight-proven propulsion, controls, software, batteries, and manufacturing systems that rapidly deliver a new capability tailored to military requirements.

The series hybrid electric turbogenerator is developed in collaboration with GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE) under the Joint Technology Development Agreement between GE Aerospace and BETA. The turbogenerator drastically extends operational flight range and provides ground-based power for auxiliary equipment. The turbogenerator leverages the strong GE Aerospace-BETA technical and business partnership and features mechatronic design by closely coupling the electromagnetics and power electronics with the CT7/T700 based turbine. This increases efficiency, increases durability, reduces weight and reduces system cost.