Electric propulsion manufacturer ePropelled will quadruple its production capacity for uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) systems following a $60 million investment from the U.S. government. The funding will expand the company’s manufacturing footprint in Laconia, New Hampshire, from 20,000 to 80,000 square feet.

Announced in a press release on August 11, 2026, the expansion is supported by the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) program. The initiative aims to strengthen the domestic supply chain for mission-critical drone technologies and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers for dual-use electric propulsion systems.

Scaling domestic UAV production

ePropelled specializes in electric motors, electronic speed controllers, and complete propulsion systems for uncrewed aircraft. The newly announced facility expansion will allow the manufacturer to increase its annual production capacity by a factor of four. This scale-up addresses accelerating demand across defense, public safety, logistics, and agricultural markets.

In the company statement, ePropelled CEO Nick Grewal described the investment as a significant milestone for both the company and the broader U.S. advanced manufacturing sector.

“As demand for high-performance uncrewed systems continues to accelerate, expanding our manufacturing capacity ensures that we can deliver reliable, scalable, and secure propulsion systems produced in the United States,” Grewal said. “We are proud to support the government’s objective of strengthening domestic manufacturing while helping customers across government and commercial markets deploy advanced capabilities faster.”

Supply chain security and intellectual property

The $60 million injection aligns with broader federal objectives to secure the supply chain for critical aerospace components. By funding domestic production through programs like IBAS, the U.S. government is actively working to mitigate risks associated with offshore manufacturing of dual-use technologies.

Since its founding in 2018, ePropelled has developed a substantial portfolio of intellectual property to support these manufacturing efforts. The company has generated more than 40 patents across 13 categories, focusing on power and propulsion innovations for aerospace applications.

AirPro News analysis

The $60 million investment in ePropelled highlights a growing urgency within the U.S. defense apparatus to onshore critical subcomponents for uncrewed aerial systems. While airframe manufacturing has largely remained domestic for defense applications, propulsion systems and electronic speed controllers have historically relied on international supply chains. By quadrupling ePropelled’s capacity, the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment program is directly addressing a known bottleneck in UAV procurement. We expect to see similar targeted investments in domestic component manufacturers as the government continues to prioritize scalable, attritable uncrewed systems.

Sources: ePropelled

Drones manufacturer Modovolo has integrated quantum-inspired simulation software from BQP to optimize the aerodynamic design of its 3D-printed propellers, yielding immediate increases in flight time and payload capacity.

Announced in a press release on August 7, 2026, the partnerships utilizes BQP’s BQPhy software and its QuantumNOW solver. The integration allows Modovolo to bypass traditional Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) bottlenecks by running tens of thousands of simulations concurrently on existing high-performance computing and graphics processing unit infrastructure.

Overcoming computational bottlenecks in propeller design

Propeller optimization presents a complex engineering challenge due to the vast number of aerodynamic and structural variables involved at every point along a blade. Modovolo Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer Arion Mangio noted that traditional tools struggle to account for these infinite variables, making the design process lengthy and prone to error.

Prior to the integration, Modovolo relied on proprietary genetic algorithms to develop high-efficiency designs. However, the sheer volume of potential three-dimensional geometries made the process highly time-intensive, often requiring weeks of computational work to re-run design iterations.

“By running thousands of simulations simultaneously, BQPhy eliminates the traditional trial-and-error bottleneck. It gives forward-thinking manufacturers like Modovolo the power to discover radically optimized geometries that were previously computationally invisible, moving from software output to physical testing at a pace the industry hasn’t seen before,” said Abhishek Chopra, Founder and CEO of BQP.

Chopra added that the software integration focuses on total design-space exploration rather than simply accelerating individual simulations.

Translating simulation to UAV performance

The application of the QuantumNOW solver has directly impacted the physical capabilities of Modovolo’s Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). By evaluating an unprecedented number of design variables simultaneously, the engineering team resolved immediate performance limitations and established a scalable system for future aircraft development.

Modovolo Co-Founder and CEO Justin Call explained that while the company had already developed a proprietary process for manufacturing affordable 3D-printed propellers, maximizing their aerodynamic efficiency using conventional software remained a slow process.

“BQPhy acted as a true force multiplier, giving us a massive competitive leap in UAV market. With the BQP-developed propellers we are seeing large increases in flight time and payload lift capacity,” Call stated.

AirPro News analysis

The integration of quantum-inspired solvers into commercial aerospace design highlights a critical shift in how manufacturers approach aerodynamic optimization. In the UAV sector, where battery density and payload capacity remain strict operational constraints, extracting marginal efficiency gains from propeller geometry is essential. By moving away from sequential CFD testing and adopting concurrent, large-scale simulation, manufacturers can significantly compress the development cycle. We expect this computational approach to become increasingly standard across the advanced air mobility and drone manufacturing sectors as companies seek to reduce the time and capital required for physical prototyping.

Sources: BQP via PR Newswire

Athens-based startup Marcos Aerospace has unveiled the Quencher concept, an autonomous, artificial intelligence-assisted amphibious aircraft designed to conduct continuous aerial firefighting operations.

The company entered its Pre-Production Development Phase in January 2026, with the phase scheduled to run through 2029. The proposed aircraft aims to remove flight crews from hazardous wildfire environments while enabling day-and-night water drops, addressing a major limitation of current crewed firefighting fleets.

Autonomous systems and swarm coordination

According to company documentation, the Quencher integrates automated mission management, autonomous flight controls, and AI-assisted navigation. The design is optimized for continuous scooping operations from bodies of water and rapid refilling at designated ground stations.

A key feature of the proposed system is its swarm coordination capability. Marcos Aerospace states that a single ground operator will be able to supervise up to five Quencher aircraft simultaneously.

In a media release reported by Wildfire Today on June 8, 2026, Marcos Aerospace founder Marcos Caramalengos described the concept as a new category in aerial firefighting. Caramalengos stated that the aircraft represents a paradigm shift for the industry.

Performance targets and engine specifications

The Quencher is designed around the Pratt & Whitney PW127 turboprop engine. Preliminary specifications published by Wildfire Today indicate a maximum speed of 440 km/h and a cruise speed of 360 km/h.

There is a slight discrepancy in the company’s published water capacity figures. The Marcos Aerospace homepage lists a 4,500-liter capacity, while the company’s capabilities documentation states the aircraft can scoop 5,000 liters in under 15 seconds. Because the aircraft remains in the preliminary design phase, all specifications reflect design intent rather than certified performance.

AirPro News analysis

We view the Quencher concept as part of a broader aviation industry push toward uncrewed solutions for high-risk missions. Aerial firefighting exposes crews to extreme hazards, including dense smoke, severe turbulence, and low-visibility environments. By removing the pilot from the cockpit, operators can theoretically conduct aggressive initial attacks on wildfires without risking human life.

The most significant operational advantage of an autonomous water bomber is the potential for 24-hour operations. Traditional crewed firefighting aircraft are typically restricted to daylight hours due to safety regulations and visibility constraints. If Marcos Aerospace can successfully certify the Quencher for night operations, it could provide fire agencies with a relentless suppression tool during the hours when wildfire behavior typically moderates.

Sources: Marcos Aerospace