- Barq Group and Elroy Air to build Abu Dhabi facility for Chaparral VTOL aircraft
- Chaparral carries 300 lbs over 300 miles, ideal for MENA deliveries
- Supports Abu Dhabi’s SAVI cluster, creates jobs, and strengthens the supply chain
Barq Group, which is the foremost company in smart mobility and logistics in the MENA region, has entered into a strategic MoU with Elroy Air, which is a US-based company that has been a trailblazer in aerial systems for middle-mile logistics that operate fully autonomously.
The deal paves the way for a joint venture worth $200 million to set up an advanced manufacturing plant in Abu Dhabi for the Chaparral, which is a hybrid-electric VTOL cargo aircraft that is fully autonomous.
The production plant will be providing services in different sectors (commercial and humanitarian) over the whole MENA area through the full aftermarket support, which entails the maintenance, repair, and overhaul services.
The joint venture, by local manufacturing, is looking to cater to the rising demand for autonomous logistics solutions in a region with rapid growth, thus, facilitating middle-mile delivery that is more resilient.
The Chaparral is an aircraft with the capability of 300 lb payload over a distance of 300 miles and has a hybrid-electric powertrain that enables long-range missions even without charging infrastructure, thus making it suitable for different terrains. In November 2023, it celebrated a milestone as it became the world’s first turbogenerator-hybrid-electric airplane to perform a flight.
Barq Group CEO Ahmed AlMazrui stated, “Our partnership with Elroy Air is a testament to Abu Dhabi’s position as a global leader in the future of mobility. This $200 million investment is more than a manufacturing agreement; it is a commitment to building a self-sustaining aerospace ecosystem in the UAE. The massive demand we are seeing from logistics providers across MENA makes it clear that local production is the only way to scale effectively”.
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“Together, we are redefining how goods move across the region while supporting the ‘Make it in the Emirates’ initiative”, he added.
The project is in line with Abu Dhabi’s Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industry (SAVI) cluster, and contributes to the emirate’s position as a pioneer in eco-friendly transportation and also creates skilled aerospace jobs while providing the regional supply chain with more strength.
“Demand for the Chaparral in the Mena region has been immense, surpassing our initial projections and highlighting the urgent need for infrastructure-independent logistics”, stated Elroy Air CEO Dr Andrew Clare.
He added, “Abu Dhabi is the ideal strategic hub for our first international manufacturing footprint. By producing the Chaparral locally with Barq Group, we are not only reducing lead times for our regional customers but ensuring the aircraft is built in the same environment where they will operate. We are thrilled to partner with a visionary leader like Ahmed AlMazrui to bring this next-generation capability to the UAE”.
After the collaboration between Elroy Air and Kratos, the first flight operations in the UAE are scheduled for 2027 with US-made aircraft, followed by local manufacturing starting in 2028. The joint venture will also be able to supply the global market demand of over 1,500 Chaparral units from different logistics and aviation companies.