The companies intend to integrate Near Earth's autonomous flight products with Honeywell Aerospace’s Anthem solution, the next-generation digital cockpit already at the heart of Valo. Because the technologies have been designed to work together, the partnership is expected to provide a faster, lower-risk path to introducing advanced autonomous capability into the aircraft for future defense and commercial missions.

Founded in 2012, Near Earth brings more than a decade of experience developing autonomous flight systems for programmes with the U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Army and Honeywell Aerospace, such as optionally piloted Black Hawk helicopters and autonomous flight demonstrations on the Leonardo AW139.

Through the partnership, the two companies intend to pursue near-term defense opportunities while also creating a long-term roadmap for increasingly automated commercial operations.

Valo combines this autonomy roadmap with a highly capable aircraft platform. Alongside the all-electric tiltrotor aircraft, Vertical is developing a hybrid-electric variant designed to deliver up to 1,000 miles of range, payloads of up to 1,100 kg over shorter distances, and the low acoustic and thermal signatures increasingly required for defense and special mission operations. Valo offers governments a multi-mission platform, spanning logistics, distributed operations, resupply and other missions.

Using a common aircraft platform across commercial and defense markets shortens development timelines, reduces operating costs and enables capabilities to be delivered faster to customers.