Ascendance today announced that it has selected ENGINeUS, the first EASA-certified electric motor developed by Safran Electrical & Power, for the ATEA flying prototype, its hybrid-electric vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft.
ATEA, which features a propulsion architecture consisting of eight vertical electric motors and two horizontal electric motors, is a low-carbon, quiet alternative to conventional helicopters, designed to reduce environmental impact and pave the way for more efficient regional connections.
The ATEA flying demonstrator, currently in production, will be equipped with two ENGINeUS electric motors built by Safran Electrical & Power, providing horizontal propulsion and each developing more than 100 kW. With its power and control electronics integrated directly into the motor and its optimized air-cooling system, ENGINeUS meets ATEA’s requirements.
Ascendance has begun its ground test campaign at its representative aircraft test facility in Muret, south of Toulouse, . The purpose of these tests is to approve the integration of new technologies, including ENGINeUS, into ATEA’s hybrid electric propulsion system and validate its performance.
“Safety is essential to our program, particularly the first of our test flights to be conducted with a pilot on board. This collaboration with Safran Electrical & Power, an industry leader, is an opportunity to benefit from their expertise in performance and safety, as well as engine performance,” says Jean-Christophe Lambert, CEO of Ascendance.
“We are very proud to Ascendance with its ambitious ATEA VTOL program. This announcement, which follows the EASA certification of our ENGINeUS engine, cements our position as a pioneer in the field of electric propulsion. It is the result of several months of technical collaboration between our two companies in the French region of Occitanie,” said Agnès Pronost-Gilles, Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Energy Division of Safran Electrical & Power.
The ATEA project was selected in 2023 within the framework of the 2030 recovery plan, as part of the “Produce a low-carbon aircraft in ” program. As such, Ascendance relies on several French players for the aircraft’s main systems.
