Horizon Aircraft (NASDAQ:HOVR) has entered a strategic engineering partnership with MHIRJ Aviation Group, a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries subsidiary, to advance its hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft, the Cavorite X7. MHIRJ will design flight test instrumentation critical for data collection ahead of the program’s flight tests scheduled for early 2027.
This collaboration provides specialized engineering support and leverages MHIRJ’s regional aviation expertise to reduce technical risks and speed certification.
Announced on April 8, 2026, from Toronto, the agreement targets enhanced performance in wing-borne flight, prioritizing speed, range, and operational utility for regional air mobility.
The news drove Horizon’s stock up 15.8% in trading, signaling market confidence in the de-risking strategy through proven industry partners.
MHIRJ’s involvement strengthens the Cavorite X7’s path to operational readiness, addressing key challenges in hybrid-electric VTOL instrumentation and testing.