BAE Systems Collaboration With Heart Aerospace In Developing ES-30 Electric Aircraft Battery System

JAKARTA - BAE Systems, a British company, announced on Thursday that it will be working with Heart Aerospace from Sweden in developing a battery system for Heart's regional ES-30 electric aircraft.

"The wide experience of BAE Systems in developing batteries for heavy-land vehicle applications, as well as their experience of developing critical control systems for flights make them ideal partners in this important step for the ES-30 and aviation industry. We look forward to being able to work together in efforts to decarbonize air travel," Sophia Graplund, Chief Operating Officer of Heart Aerospace, quoted from the old BAE System.

The ES-30 will be powered by four electric motors, with a total distance of 200 kilometers, an extended reserve hybrid distance of 400 kilometers with 30 passengers, and the ability to fly up to 800 kilometers with 25 passengers, BAE Systems said.

The Heart Aerospace has a total order of 230 and 100 options for the ES-30, as well as a statement of interest for the additional 108 aircraft.

The ES-30 will also have a cost-effective improvement path and scaleable as battery technology develops in the future. The battery upgrade plan allows for an increase in energy that can be used at the same weight, so that the flight duration is longer and the route options are expanded.

The first electric-powered aircraft was an experimental aircraft belonging to the Slovenian aircraft maker, Pipistrel. The aircraft was named "Taurus Electro" and first-flyed in 2007 at Slovenj Gradec, Slovenia.

Other electric aircraft powered and successfully flying are experimental aircraft that are no longer flying today. Cri-Cri, the electric-powered electric aircraft was built by the French company, Aero Composites Saintonge, and successfully flew in 2010.

However, the aircraft is designed only for experimental flights and is not mass-produced. Currently, the aircraft may be displayed in museums or flight centers as an early history of the development of electric-powered aircraft.