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Press release

Volatus Aerospace receives NRC-IRAP funding to support Condor XL development

17/03/2026

Press releaseIssued by Volatus Aerospace and published as received — not written by Airframer’s editors.
Volatus Aerospace receives NRC-IRAP funding to support Condor XL development
Condor XL: Long-Range Logistics for the FrontlineThe Condor XL is a gasoline-powered, heavy-lift drone engineered to deliver critical supplies in contested and hard-to-reach locations. With a payload capacity of 180 kg and a range of 200 km, it is the ideal platform for resupplying frontline units, transporting communications equipment, or delivering vital medical aid under pressure. · Photo: Volatus Aerospace

Volatus Aerospace Inc., a Canadian aerospace and defence company delivering integrated uncrewed systems and mission-critical operational services, today announced it has been approved for non-dilutive funding support of up to $320,000 from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP).

The funding supports development activities related to the Volatus Condor XL heavy-lift uncrewed aerial system, including avionics architecture development, autonomy integration, and flight validation activities supporting future commercial and government applications. The project also supports Volatus’ long-term strategy to expand sovereign Canadian capabilities in autonomous aerospace systems and next-generation aerial logistics platforms.

Glen Lynch, Chief Executive Officer of Volatus Aerospace, commented, “Last week, the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) announced over $900 million in funding over five years under the Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) to bolster the Defence Industrial Strategy, focusing on domestic R&D and dual-use technologies. Today, we are pleased to acknowledge the financial contribution of the Government of Canada through NRC-IRAP. This support helps advance Canadian innovation in autonomous aerial systems and aligns with our strategy to build domestic capabilities in dual-use aerospace technologies.”

The Condor XL platform is being developed to support heavy-lift logistics, infrastructure support, emergency response, and government applications requiring runway-independent cargo delivery capabilities. The project is expected to run through early 2027 and supports Volatus’ ongoing investments in Canadian engineering and advanced aerospace development. The Company expects the initiative to contribute to domestic innovation capacity and support high-value technical employment in Canada.

Government Support Acknowledgement

This project is supported by the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP). Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the Company and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Research Council of Canada.

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