Skyfly Technologies, the British developer of the Longbow hybrid-electric uncrewed aircraft, has closed a $10 million Seed round led by specialist growth equity investor, HICO Investment Group, with participation from Archangel.
The investment will see the startup accelerate development and demonstration of the uncrewed aircraft for defence and government customers, and the hybrid propulsion system that gives it its range.
“Skyfly is bringing a practical approach to aviation, with the Longbow unlocking new possibilities for defence operations, logistics and communications. At HICO, we believe in the power of private enterprise to deliver real-world impact. Skyfly’s focus on dual-use applications for the defence and commercial sectors aligns closely with our mission to back disruptive businesses with strong commercial potential across multiple markets. We look forward to working closely with the team as they further develop their innovative technologies and continue to expand internationally,” said Chris Hartnoll, managing director at HICO Investment Group.
Skyfly says that the Longbow with its ‘vertical take-off from a ship, a field or a forward base, then wing-borne cruise at 100mph for more than 400 miles with a 200kg internal payload’ is ideally positioned to fill the gap between small quadcopter and the helicopter.
The Longbow is the uncrewed version of Skyfly’s two-seat vertically capable aircraft, Axe, which is said to have completed over 100 piloted test flights including Europe’s first airfield-to-airfield eVTOL flight. The company holds experimental permits in the UK and the United States.
The platform can be crewed, remotely piloted or autonomous with the aircraft using eight fixed-angle electric motors and a winged, canard configuration – the wings are quick-release making it transportation quick and easy. Its compact turbine generator that runs on Jet A1, JP8 or diesel, charges the batteries in flight and doubles as an off-grid power source for remote or forward operating bases.
“The Axe gave us a proven, efficient airframe,” said Michael Thompson, CEO of Skyfly. “The Longbow turns it into a workhorse for the people who need one most. Nobody in the current uncrewed market offers this combination of payload, range and vertical take-off at anything like this cost, and the hybrid system means it can run on the fuel already in the supply chain.”
Skyfly has been enrolled on the UK Ministry of Defence’s Uncrewed Air Systems Heavy Lift Capability (UASHLC) framework, which is accelerating the development of autonomous heavy-lift aircraft for the maritime environment.
“Longbow addresses a clear requirement for unmanned systems that can move meaningful payloads over significant distances without relying on a runway,” said Nicholas Nelson, General Partner at Archangel Ventures.
