Traverse Aero secures U.S. Air Force contract to advance Orca hybrid eVTOL cargo drone

Traverse Aero Corporation announces it has been selected by AFWERX for a Phase I contract in the amount of $75k focused on the company’s flagship Orca cargo drone to address the most pressing challenges in the Department of the Air Force (DAF). The Air Force Research Laboratory and AFWERX have partnered to streamline the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) process by accelerating the small business experience through faster proposal to award timelines, changing the pool of potential applicants by expanding opportunities to small business and eliminating bureaucratic overhead by continually implementing process improvement changes in contract execution. The DAF began offering the Open Topic SBIR/STTR program in 2018 which expanded the range of innovations the DAF funded and now on Jan 10th, 2025, Traverse Aero Corporation will start its journey to create and provide innovative capabilities that will strengthen the national defense of the United States of America.

The Orca hybrid eVTOL cargo drone is designed to meet the growing demand for point-to-point delivery, offering unmatched flexibility for national security, humanitarian relief and commercial applications. Its hybrid propulsion system enables extended range and higher payload capacity, making it a scalable and efficient solution for modern aerial logistics.

Orcas drones have the potential to be a critical asset in national security and Department of Defense (DoD) logistics, supporting forward-deployed operations, medical evacuations, and real-time supply chain reinforcement. Their autonomous cargo delivery and rapid deployment capabilities will also enhance Agile Combat Employment (ACE) forward-basing strategies.

“Traverse Aero is honored to receive this contract from the United States Air Force,” said Scott Parker, CEO of Traverse Aero. “This award recognizes the viability of the Orca’s hybrid propulsion system over fully-electric eVTOLs and its unique ability to transport palletized cargo safely, efficiently and rapidly. We look forward to collaborating with airmen to accelerate the development, flight testing and adoption of the Orca platform across the Department of Defense.”

“The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Air Force, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.”