Deutsche Aircraft has agreed to support Vaeridion in its efforts to bring the all-electric, nine-passenger Microliner aircraft to market. Under a memorandum of understanding signed on September 23, the German start-ups agreed to collaborate in testing battery technology, as well as structural design and preparations for the manufacturing phase of the program.

As China’s government charts its 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030), the country’s advanced air mobility start-ups closed the summer with a series of milestones they say will advance electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft toward commercial operations. Some of the momentum is coming from the state-backed Belt and Road Initiative.

GE Aerospace has agreed to support Merlin’s efforts to certify its autonomous flight technology for use with existing civil and military aircraft. Under an agreement announced on September 23, the companies said their collaboration will focus on artificial intelligence and “autonomy-focused solutions that enable crew reduction efforts.”

Pratt & Whitney this week confirmed it is stepping up development work for its XA103 engine intended for the U.S. Air Force’s Next Generation Adaptive Propulsion program. The RTX group subsidiary announced on September 23 that its engineering team has accelerated the readiness of digital data packages for the program seven months after completing the design review for the engine, which could be in contention to power the Pentagon’s planned F-47 fighter.

Kawasaki Motors is developing a piston engine for Dronamics’ Black Swan uncrewed air vehicle. The Japanese automotive group announced its partnership with the Bulgarian drone start-up on September 18, saying they will work together on all aspects of research and development, integration, and testing for the new version of the drone.

Odys Aviation plans to conduct trial operations with its Laila uncrewed hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft in Oman next year. Under a memorandum of understanding signed on September 14 with the Gulf state’s Civil Aviation Authority and Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, the Californian company will work with local partners on what it calls a proof of concept program for advanced air mobility services.

Hybrid-electric aviation start-up Ascendance is pursuing opportunities in the Asia-Pacific market through a pair of new partnerships in Malaysia. On September 17, the French company signed memorandums of understanding with Pen Aviation and Pahang Aerospace City Development.