Whisper Aero has successfully completed the first crewed flight tests of its eQ250 electric ducted fans, achieving a Technology Readiness Level greater than 7 and clearing the path for integration into upcoming Military-Aircraft and civil aircraft programs.

The mid-August 2026 test campaign took place at Crossville Memorial Airport (KCSV) in Tennessee. According to official statements released on August 19, 2026, by Whisper Aero and the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, the flights validated the ultra-quiet acoustic signature of the propulsion system in real-world conditions.

Flight test campaign and acoustic performance

The test vehicle, designated the Whisper Powered Swift, is a modified Aériane Swift 3 glider with a 46-foot wingspan. Whisper Aero retrofitted the airframe with two 10-inch eQ250 propulsors, each capable of producing up to 85 pounds of static thrust. Power was supplied by five Electric Power Systems EPiC 1.0 battery modules.

Test pilot Zac Majors conducted three flights totaling more than 130 minutes in the air. The crewed flights followed a phased testing progression that included progressively ballasted glider flights, aircraft integration testing, formal readiness reviews, and more than 1,000 hours of ground-based Propulsion life testing.

Acoustic measurements taken during early morning flights demonstrated the low noise profile of the eQ250 fans. With an ambient noise level of 34 dB(A), the aircraft produced only 52 dB(A) while flying at an altitude of 100 feet.

“Any new technology needs strong proof points. This is a very strong proof point. These propulsors are absolutely as quiet as we said they are.”

Whisper Aero Chief Executive Officer Mark Moore noted that adding the propulsors to a glider allowed the company to demonstrate that the engines at full throttle add virtually no noise to the baseline acoustic signature of the airframe.

Chief Operating Officer Ian Villa detailed the regulatory and safety steps preceding the flights. The company processed the modifications through its AS9100 quality management system and secured a special airworthiness certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) before commencing the powered flight phase.

Defense applications and future development

Reaching Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 7 indicates that the eQ250 propulsors have been demonstrated in an operational environment and are ready for deployment on partner aircraft. Whisper Aero is currently involved in multiple defense programs that will utilize this propulsion technology.

In June 2026, the US Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) awarded a Contracts to Mach Industries and Whisper Aero for the Runway Independent Maritime Expeditionary Strike (RIMES) program. The companies are co-developing a hybrid-electric prototype aircraft named Atlas, which is designed to launch from ships lacking large flight decks.

Whisper Aero is also under contract with the US Air Force to develop the Collaborative Logistics Aircraft (CLA). This family of autonomous aircraft is intended for contested logistics operations, with initial testing scheduled for 2027.

The recent flight tests in Tennessee were supported by a $500,000 Transportation Network Growth Opportunity grant awarded to Tennessee Tech University by the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development in April 2025. Following the successful flights in Crossville, Whisper Aero plans to conduct further acoustic measurement tests and evaluations with government customers at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico later this year.

AirPro News analysis

We view the use of a modified glider as a highly effective method for isolating propulsion noise during acoustic testing. By establishing a baseline with the unpowered Aériane Swift 3, Whisper Aero generated clean data proving that the eQ250 fans do not significantly increase the airframe’s overall noise footprint. Achieving TRL 7 is a critical milestone for any aerospace Startups, as it transitions the technology from experimental status to a viable product for integration. The immediate application of these propulsors in the DIU RIMES and USAF CLA programs highlights the strong demand for low-acoustic-signature propulsion in military logistics and expeditionary roles.

Sources: Whisper Aero

Shield AI and GE Aerospace have successfully integrated a 1990s-era thrust-vectoring nozzle into the F110-GE-129E engine, clearing a critical Propulsion milestone for the X-BAT autonomous vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) strike fighter.

The adaptation of the Axisymmetric Vectoring Exhaust Nozzle (AVEN) enables the 22,000-pound X-BAT to launch and land vertically, eliminating the need for traditional runways. By utilizing flight-proven hardware from previous decades, the companies have significantly accelerated the development timeline for the uncrewed aircraft, which is projected to make its first flight in late 2026.

Resurrecting 1990s Propulsion Technology

Originally developed in the 1990s for the Multi-Axis Thrust Vectoring (MATV) program, the AVEN nozzle was initially tested on a specialized F-16 aircraft at Edwards Air Force Base. During that period, the hardware accumulated 135 flight hours across 95 sorties.

Historical records regarding the nozzle’s initial ground testing vary slightly. GE Aerospace reported 87 hours of ground tests in an August 20, 2026, retrospective article, while a July 20, 2026, joint press release from the companies cited 73 hours.

Shiva Vallabhaneni, Senior Propulsion Engineer for X-BAT at Shield AI, noted the unique nature of the adaptation in a corporate release.

“By combining decades of propulsion engineering with modern autonomy and new aircraft architecture, we’ve transformed a technology built for one mission into the foundation for something its original designers could never have envisioned,” Vallabhaneni stated.

Engine Light-Off and Integration

On July 20, 2026, Shield AI and GE Aerospace announced the completion of integration, actuation, and engine light-off testing at GE Aerospace’s Peebles Test Operation in Ohio. This event marked the first fully integrated test campaign of the AVEN nozzle since its original 1990s development.

The testing validated that the nozzle, the F110-GE-129E engine, actuators, and control systems functioned together as a single propulsion unit.

Armor Harris, Senior Vice President of Aircraft Engineering at Shield AI, emphasized the efficiency of this approach. He explained that taking hardware with a flight-proven track record and adapting it for the X-BAT mission allowed the team to move through development at a rapid pace rather than starting from zero.

U.S. Navy Rimes Program Contract

The propulsion milestones align with growing military interest in runway-independent platforms. On August 14, 2026, Aviation Week reported that the U.S. Navy awarded Shield AI a $50 million Contracts to develop the X-BAT under the Runway Independent Maritime Expeditionary Strike (Rimes) program.

According to the publication, the Navy intends to operate the VTOL aircraft from destroyers, expeditionary sea bases, and aircraft carriers to execute long-range strike missions.

AirPro News analysis

We view the integration of the AVEN nozzle as a highly pragmatic engineering decision by Shield AI. Developing a clean-sheet VTOL propulsion system for a 22,000-pound strike fighter would typically require billions of dollars and over a decade of testing. By mating an existing, flight-proven thrust-vectoring nozzle to the widely used F110 engine family, the company bypasses the highest-risk phases of aerospace propulsion development.

Furthermore, the X-BAT concept directly addresses a primary concern for modern military planners: the vulnerability of fixed airbases and large aircraft carriers. Distributing autonomous strike capabilities across smaller surface vessels like destroyers and expeditionary sea bases requires robust VTOL performance, which the AVEN technology now appears ready to provide.

Sources: GE Aerospace

Saab AB unveiled a full-scale concept model of a supersonic, low-observable uncrewed combat air system, designated the A3-001, during the Jubilee Air Show at Malmen Air Base in Linköping, Sweden, on August 22, 2026.

The presentation, which coincided with the 100th anniversary of the Swedish Air Force, outlines the manufacturers vision for a high-end autonomous platform designed to operate alongside crewed fighters like the Saab Gripen E. According to a company press release, the A3-001 is intended for high-risk missions in heavily defended airspace, including electronic warfare, suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD), and precision strikes.

Pathway to the A3-001 concept

While the A3-001 represents a future operational vision targeted for the mid-2030s, Saab is currently developing two uncrewed technology demonstrators, designated A1 and A2, under its Autonomous Collaborative Platform (ACP) roadmap. These initial demonstrators are funded by the Swedish Ministry of Defence.

Reporting by The War Zone indicates that the A1 demonstrator is expected to make its first flight within approximately 15 months. The A1 will be powered by a General Electric (GE) F414 engine, which is the same powerplant utilized in the Gripen E and F models.

“We are currently in an intensive development phase where, together with Sweden, we are exploring technologies that will lay the foundation for the next generation of combat air systems,” said Peter Nilsson, Head of Business Unit Advanced Programs at Saab AB. “As part of this work, we intend to fly uncrewed demonstrators with fighter-like characteristics before 2030 as we support Sweden in considering their future options.”

Strategic positioning and future combat systems

The A3-001 concept falls under Sweden’s broader Koncept för Framtida Stridsflygplan (KFS), or Concept for Future Combat Aircraft project. The War Zone notes that the A3-001 is positioned as a higher-end, larger, and faster platform compared to the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) currently under development for the United States Air Forces.

Saab intends for the A3-001 to leverage the company’s existing sensor and command infrastructure. Nilsson stated that the A3 system is a concept for what could follow the demonstrator phase should the Swedish government decide to proceed with development.

“Saab is well positioned to develop the next generation of combat air systems building on Gripen and GlobalEye, combined with our long experience in advanced aerospace systems,” Nilsson said.

AirPro News analysis

We view Saab’s decision to power the near-term A1 demonstrator with the GE F414 engine as a pragmatic approach to reducing developmental risk. By utilizing the same propulsion system as the Gripen E, Saab ensures immediate logistical and maintenance commonality, which is critical for testing manned-unmanned teaming concepts. It is necessary to distinguish between the funded A1 and A2 demonstrators and the A3-001 mock-up showcased on August 22, 2026. The A3-001 remains a company-funded concept illustrating potential future capabilities rather than an active acquisition program. Its realization will depend entirely on future procurement decisions by the Swedish Armed Forces following the data gathered from the A1 and A2 flight test campaigns.

Sources: Saab AB