Fri, Aug 08, 2025
$9.7M Contract To Mature the VH-4T And Test First Prototype
VerdeGo Aero announced it received a U.S. Air Force Small Business Innovation Research Phase III contract for $9.7 million to bring its VH-4T hybrid-electric powerplant to a production configuration and to build and test the first prototype VH-4T-415.
The awards was issued under the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center Mobility Directorate in cooperation with AFWERX, the innovation branch of the Department of the Air Force and supported by the Air Force Research Laboratory. AFWERX leverages cutting-edge ingenuity and technology from startups and small businesses to address the Department’s most pressing requirements to counter emerging adversarial technologies.
The Phase III work will take 22 months and extends the testing work VerdeGo performed to fulfill its AFWERX Phase II award using the VH-4T-RD Research & Development powerplant.
David Eichstedt, Vice President of Product Management for VerdeGo said, “VerdeGo is pleased to support AFWERX as they continue to advance dual-use technologies to benefit both the Department of the Air Force and the U.S. aerospace industry, so that the U.S. can maintain leadership in the emerging field of electrified aerospace. VerdeGo has had a strong positive response to the VH-4T for both commercial and military applications and we are excited to deliver this important capability to our customers.”
The VH-4T is based on the Pratt & Whitney PW207 helicopter engine and, using liquid fuel rather than batteries as the primary energy source, can deliver approximately 400 kW of high-voltage DC current to power the electric motors in eVTOL air taxis and drones. This combination enables electric aircraft to accomplish 5-10 times more range and endurance than batteries alone can provide.
Eric Bartsch, VerdeGo CEO, “This award is a major milestone for VerdeGo and for the VH-4T powerplant. The project accelerates our path to delivering a certifiable hybrid-electric propulsion system that supports both government and commercial applications. The VH-4T is already in demand, and this award enables us to advance its capabilities for our current customers and expand its impact across the aviation industry.”
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