Electra has selected The Atlas Group to manufacture and assemble EL9 airframes for the hybrid-electric aircraft’s flight-test and certification programme. Work is due to start in September at Atlas’s Wichita, Kansas site, with first deliveries expected in 2027. The deal covers test hardware rather than full-rate production, as Electra prepares the EL9 for certification and later manufacturing.
The EL9 is a short takeoff and landing aircraft intended to use hybrid-electric propulsion, and the airframes built by Atlas will support the next stage of development. Electra plans to move serial production to its own factory in Springfield, Ohio, leaving the Wichita agreement focused on prototyping and certification support.
The arrangement gives Electra an established aerospace manufacturer for an early build phase, while keeping its long-term production strategy separate. Publicly available details do not specify how many airframes Atlas will produce or disclose financial terms.