Vertical Aerospace today provided a business and financial update for the first six months of 2026.
In July 2026 the company announced financing commitments of approximately USD100 million from existing and new investors to support continued progress towards certification and commercialisation which meant the company “had approximately USD134 million in cash and cash equivalents as of August 13, 2026. Short-term liquidity, together with the remaining proceeds from the financing commitments expected on or about August 13, 2026, and anticipated future draws under available facilities, is expected to provide at least 12 months of runway. Expected net cash outflows of approximately USD150 million over the next 12 months, reflecting continued investment in certification, manufacturing readiness and hybrid-electric development.”
In April, the company became “only the second company globally to complete a piloted transition flight in a full-scale tiltrotor eVTOL,” it reported. “By August, its latest full-scale prototype had achieved the same milestone just over two months after beginning flight testing, progressing rapidly through thrustborne, wingborne and then transition flight….” It also expanded its defence strategy through a partnership with Near Earth Autonomy, a proven provider of autonomous flight systems, supporting Valo’s common platform strategy across commercial and defence markets and continued development of its hybrid-electric aircraft programme, including integration testing for its next-generation propulsion system, while the UK Ministry of Defence confirmed interest in Vertical’s hybrid-electric and autonomous capabilities.
The company also “continued investment in Vertical’s proprietary battery technology while launching the UK Government-backed ECLiPSE programme to develop next-generation charging and thermal management technologies designed to support the electric aviation market and Vertical’s reoccurring battery revenue opportunity…. It joined Honeywell Aerospace-led Project VERTI-GO – Europe’s equivalent of the FAA’s eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP) – to support the safe integration of eVTOL aircraft into European airspace, while continuing engagement with six regulators across key international markets.”
A Critical Design Review is expected by 2026 year-end, “which establishes the certifiable design baseline for its aircraft and enables the build and test of certification-conforming aircraft….The opening of Vertical’s early aircraft production facility in Q3 2026 and its expanded Energy Centre, which will triple battery production capacity over time, in Q4 2026….Development of future production capabilities, including the planned establishment of production facilities in the UK…..The retrofit of the Company’s latest prototype aircraft for hybrid-electric flight testing in the first half of 2027.”
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https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260813486234/en/Vertical-Aerospace-Provides-H1-2026-Business-Update