Electric aircraft set to bring upon a transformative change in the aerospace and defense sector

While the ambition for the development of electric aircraft has been persistent throughout the age of flight, only recently have the necessary technological advances in fields such as batteries and energy generation made the concept of electric aircraft a viable future capability. Lithium-ion batteries can offer a great enough specific energy to allow electric aircraft to compete with conventionally powered aircraft in many sectors. The benefits and applications of electric aircraft are diverse, ranging from cleaner commercial aviation to air taxis, high-speed broadband enablers, and even space launch systems. With such a range of potential applications, electric aircraft have provided a transformative change in the aerospace and defense sector. The sudden increase in electric aviation start-ups and large companies getting involved has come as a result of massive amounts of investment driven by a need for more sustainable solutions. This development, heralded as the ‘Third Age of Flight’ is a revolution in the aviation industry comparable to the advent of jet propulsion and heavier-than-air flight.