Overview
- Electra and Safran finalized a production agreement that includes an initial order for 250 TG600 turbogenerators to support the nine‑passenger EL9 program.
- The TG600 combines Safran’s Arrano turboshaft with two 300 kW GENeUS electric generators to deliver 600 kW of hybrid electrical power for the EL9.
- Safran completed a bench test of a flight‑ready TG600 at its Bordes test site, a validation step the companies say will feed into the EL9’s planned flight‑test campaign.
- Electra reported a backlog of about 2,200 aircraft and 63 operators waiting for deliveries, which the company says underpins the need to lock in long‑term supplier capacity.
- By securing a supplier and demonstrating hardware in July 2026, Electra aims to keep to its schedule toward a first flight in late 2027 or early 2028 and certification for entry into service by 2030, with the turbogenerator approach chosen because pure battery power is expected to limit range for regional eSTOL operations.