Electra announced an $850 million investment to establish its first manufacturing facility at AirPark Ohio, adjacent to Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport (SGH), to produce the EL9 Ultra Short hybrid-electric aircraft. The July 21, 2026, announcement at the Farnborough International Airshow marks the company’s transition from development to scaled commercial production.

The approximately 100-acre campus in Clark County, Ohio, is projected to create 1,975 new jobs and support an initial production phase of 400 aircraft per year. According to a press release issued by the company, the facility will eventually scale to a maximum capacity of 800 aircraft annually, supporting Electra’s vision for a new category of regional air mobility termed “Direct Aviation.”

Facility details and production timeline

The manufacturing site will be located at AirPark Ohio in Springfield. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and JobsOhio partnered with Electra to secure the location, emphasizing the region’s historical ties to aviation and its growing focus on advanced air mobility.

“Ohio is where flight began, and the Dayton-Springfield area has become the national epicenter for advanced air mobility, the place where the next generation of aircraft is being designed, tested, and now built at scale,” DeWine stated.

Electra targets 2029 for the initial production output of the EL9 Ultra Short, with entry into service expected in 2030. The nine-passenger aircraft is designed to take off and land in distances as short as 150 feet. The design utilizes blown-lift technology and hybrid-electric propulsion to operate from spaces previously restricted to helicopters.

“In Springfield and Clark County, we found the rare combination this next era requires: a ready site, a skilled workforce, a deep aerospace and defense ecosystem, and state and local leaders with the commitment and vision to build it with us,” said Electra CEO Marc Allen.

Supply chain and certification progress

The facility announcement follows a series of supply chain and regulatory milestones for the EL9 Ultra Short program. On July 15, 2026, Electra finalized a life-of-program production agreement with Safran Helicopter Engines for the TG600 turbogenerator, which will power the aircraft. The agreement includes an initial order for 250 units.

The company also reported achieving a certification milestone with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on July 10, 2026. Concurrently, Electra is building out the operational infrastructure for its aircraft, having signed a strategic collaboration agreement on July 7, 2026, with UrbanV and Signature Aviation to develop a regional mobility ecosystem.

AirPro News analysis

We view Electra’s $850 million commitment as a significant indicator of maturity in the advanced air mobility sector. While many manufacturers in the electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) space are still navigating early prototype testing, Electra’s focus on ultra-short takeoff and landing utilizing hybrid-electric propulsion offers a distinct regulatory and operational pathway.

The selection of Ohio leverages an established aerospace supply chain and significant state-level incentives. The planned production rate of 800 aircraft per year is highly ambitious for a new entrant, requiring flawless execution in both manufacturing scale-up and FAA certification. The 2030 entry-into-service target provides a realistic buffer for the inevitable challenges of establishing a greenfield aerospace manufacturing campus.

Sources: Electra

Deutsche Aircraft and Acron Aviation signed a long-term supply agreement on July 21, 2026, at the Farnborough International Airshow, securing 25-hour flight recorder and standby solutions for the upcoming D328eco regional turboprop.

The partnership, announced via a Deutsche Aircraft press release, equips the 40-seat aircraft with safety-critical avionics as the manufacturer targets a 2027 entry into service. The agreement marks a critical supply chain milestone for the D328eco program, ensuring compliance with evolving regulatory requirements for flight data recording.

Avionics supply chain matures for the D328eco

Acron Aviation will supply its 25-hour recording capacity systems for the new turboprop. The avionics provider rebranded in 2025 following the acquisition of L3Harris Commercial Aviation Solutions by private equity group TJC. The selected systems are designed to support the operational integrity and lifecycle performance of the aircraft.

“Building strong, long-term relationships with suppliers is fundamental to the success of the D328eco programme,” stated Patricia Ferrari, Vice President Supply Chain at Deutsche Aircraft. “Acron Aviation’s extensive expertise in safety-critical avionics systems and their proven track record makes them an important partner as we continue to mature our industrial ecosystem.”

Recent program momentum and strategic partnerships

The avionics agreement follows a series of strategic supply chain and commercial developments for Deutsche Aircraft. On June 12, 2026, the manufacturer secured a long-term composite materials partnership with Hexcel to support industrialization readiness and certification compliance. The company also expanded its commercial leadership team on July 15, 2026, appointing Johan Landin as Sales Director to drive global market development for both the D328eco and the D328MR multi-role variant.

Acron Aviation President Ron Nye highlighted the alignment between the two companies regarding the regional aviation market.

“We are proud to support Deutsche Aircraft and the D328eco programme with our trusted Recorder and Standby solutions,” Nye said. “As one of Europe’s most forward-looking aircraft manufacturers, Deutsche Aircraft is helping redefine sustainable regional flight, and we are delighted to contribute technologies that support the programme’s operational integrity and long-term success.”

AirPro News analysis

We view the selection of Acron Aviation as a pragmatic step for Deutsche Aircraft as it builds out the supplier ecosystem for the D328eco. By partnering with an established entity that possesses the legacy expertise of L3Harris Commercial Aviation Solutions, Deutsche Aircraft mitigates supply chain risk for safety-critical components. Securing these tier-one supplier agreements is essential for maintaining the targeted 2027 entry into service timeline, particularly in an industry currently constrained by broader supply chain bottlenecks.

Sources: Deutsche Aircraft

AkzoNobel Aerospace Coatings has completed a major phase of a €22 million expansion at its production facility in Pamiers, France, positioning the site to increase its European manufacturing capacity by 50 percent.

Announced in a company press release on July 16, 2026, the milestone marks a significant step in a modernization project that began with a groundbreaking in July 2024. The upgrades are designed to improve workflow efficiency, expand storage, and support the industry transition toward next-generation, non-chromate coating technologies.

Infrastructure and safety upgrades

The project includes a new warehouse facility exceeding 2,000 square meters for raw materials and finished products. This building features advanced temperature-controlled storage cells to optimize product preservation and stock management.

AkzoNobel also constructed a 638-square-meter waste management facility. The structure is equipped with next-generation sprinkler systems, zoned automatic detection, and controlled intervention technology to enhance operational safety.

Quality control and production enhancements

The Pamiers site expansion heavily targets quality control, increasing the department’s capacity by 166 percent. Upgrades include four new application cabins and a specialized cabin dedicated to chromate products, which features secure airlock access and specialized insulation. The laboratory also received eight new benches with integrated extraction hoods.

On the manufacturing floor, the company installed new precision weighing systems, additional paint tanks, and an automatic beads mill specifically dedicated to non-chromate coatings. A redesigned workspace layout aims to optimize production flow and manufacturing efficiency.

Arnaud Charmetant, site manager at AkzoNobel, stated in the release that the modernization strengthens manufacturing capabilities while creating a sustainable site to accelerate advanced coating solutions.

“The investment demonstrates our continued commitment to the aerospace industry with the capacity, quality and innovation our customers need,” Charmetant said.

Project timeline and industry context

The overall development project at the Pamiers facility remains on schedule. Final construction and equipment installation are expected to conclude by the end of 2026, with an official inauguration event planned for 2027.

AirPro News analysis

The €22 million investment by AkzoNobel aligns with a broader aerospace supply chain shift toward environmentally compliant materials. As global aircraft production rates increase and maintenance sectors expand, the demand for aerospace coatings is rising concurrently. We note that the specific investment in an automatic beads mill for non-chromate coatings reflects the regulatory pressure to phase out traditional hexavalent chromium-based primers and paints. By increasing European production capacity by 50 percent, AkzoNobel is positioning its Pamiers facility to absorb this localized demand while mitigating supply chain bottlenecks for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) providers.

Sources: Aviation Maintenance Magazine (AkzoNobel Press Release), IPCM, ECHEMI