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AIRO Group Holdings, Inc., a diversified aerospace and defense company, on Tuesday said that its subsidiary Jaunt Air Mobility LLC has signed a memorandum of understanding with Fly Blade (India) Private Limited (BLADE India) to start electric vertical take-off and landing . (eVTOL) aircraft operations in India and the subcontinent by 2027.
Under the MoU, BLADE India will acquire 150 Jaunt Journey aircraft, with an option to order 100 additional units to meet expected demand over the next decade. The deal will help the companies meet the growing demand for seamless connectivity in urban India, which is the world’s third largest aviation market.
Commenting on the partnership, Chirinjeev Kathuria, chairman and co-founder of AIRO, said, “Jaunt’s MOU with BLADE India demonstrates AIRO’s commitment to bring innovative air mobility solutions to the people of India.”
New Heights
Jaunt Air Mobility, a global aerospace company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, has pioneered the Jaunt Journey, an all-electric aircraft that combines helicopter and fixed-wing flight capabilities. The company is pursuing Transport Category certification for the aircraft, similar to commercial aircraft. Fly Blade, a joint venture between Hunch Ventures and Blade Air Mobility, Inc., has established a short-haul mobility service in cities across India.
Image Credit: Jaunt Air
Focus Deal
In the collaboration, the companies plan to explore the development of key infrastructure capabilities in aircraft charging and energy distribution technology. Later, Jaunt will use BLADE India’s operational and short-haul customer experience to support the development of the Jaunt Journey aircraft and its integration into Indian airspace.
Amit Dutta, managing director of BLADE India, said, “With BLADE’s first-mover advantage in revitalizing the Urban Air Mobility ecosystem in India and Jaunt’s technical expertise, this partnership is poised to pioneer the transition to electricity and revolutionize the transportation system.”
Business Combinations
Earlier this month, AIRO Group signed a business combination agreement with special purpose acquisition company Kernel Group Holdings (NASDAQ: KRNLU) to become a public entity. AIRO operates through business segments of Advanced Avionics, Electric Air Mobility, Unmanned Aerial Systems, and Training, with a focus on bringing autonomy, artificial intelligence, and advanced operations to the commercial and military markets. The business combination is expected to be completed in the third quarter.
“The announcement of the MOU between BLADE India and AIRO’s Electric Air Mobility division provides a roadmap for integrating eVTOL into the global transportation market,” said Suren Ajjarapu, chairman and CEO of Kernel Group.
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