Skyfly Technologies Raises €8.91 Million to Commercialise Electric Aircraft and Advance Defence Drones

British aerospace startup Skyfly Technologies has raised €8.91 million ($10 million) in seed funding to bring its two-seat Axe electric aircraft closer to commercial production and accelerate development of Longbow, a longer-range hybrid-electric aircraft designed for defence and government operations. The round was led by HICO Investment Group, with participation from Archangel, a venture fund focused on next-generation defence technology. <Cite refs={["turn726382news1","turn726382search2"]}/>

Founded in 2019 and based in Thorpe Mandeville, Oxfordshire, Skyfly develops electric and hybrid-electric aircraft that can take off and land vertically without relying on conventional runways. The company is targeting two markets: private aviation through its Axe aircraft and unmanned logistics and defence applications through Longbow.

Axe: Electric vertical flight for private pilots

Skyfly’s flagship aircraft, the Axe, is a two-seat electric aircraft designed to combine helicopter-style vertical take-off with the efficiency of fixed-wing flight. It uses eight fixed-angle electric motors to lift off vertically before transitioning to forward flight, with its wings providing lift during cruising.

Unlike several competing eVTOL designs, the aircraft does not rely on tilting motors or rotating wings. This approach is intended to reduce mechanical complexity and maintenance requirements. Its winged design also allows the aircraft to glide in the event of a power loss.

The Axe is designed to fly more than 100 miles on a charge, cruise at approximately 100 mph and carry a payload of up to 200 kg. Skyfly says its prototype has completed more than 100 piloted flights, including what it describes as Europe's first airfield-to-airfield eVTOL flight. The company also reports that 61 private customers have placed orders. <Cite refs={["turn726382search3","turn726382search4"]}/>

A key milestone is certification under the US Federal Aviation Administration's updated MOSAIC rules, which took effect in July 2026 and expanded the Light Sport Aircraft framework to accommodate new aircraft configurations, including electric propulsion and vertical take-off capabilities.

Longbow targets defence and logistics

Alongside the civilian aircraft, Skyfly is developing Longbow, a hybrid-electric unmanned derivative designed to transport substantial payloads over longer distances. The aircraft is expected to offer a range exceeding 400 miles and carry up to 200 kg.

Its potential applications include military cargo resupply, intelligence and surveillance, medical evacuation and ship-to-shore logistics. Vertical take-off capability could make it useful in locations where conventional runways are unavailable, including remote operating sites and naval vessels.

Longbow has also attracted defence-sector interest, with Skyfly participating in the UK Ministry of Defence's heavy-lift uncrewed aircraft initiative. Investor Archangel sees the platform as a potential solution for missions that require a combination of significant payload capacity, long range and runway-independent operation. <Cite refs={["turn726382search3","turn726382search7"]}/>

Funding supports certification and production

Skyfly will use the new capital to complete Axe's FAA certification, expand manufacturing capacity in the UK and US, and accelerate Longbow's development. Both aircraft are planned for production at the company's 10,000-square-foot facility in Oxfordshire.

The investment comes as regulators and aerospace manufacturers explore new pathways for electric aviation. For Skyfly, the immediate priority is moving the Axe from a tested prototype to a certified aircraft, with initial customer deliveries targeted for 2027. At the same time, Longbow gives the company an opportunity to apply its vertical-flight technology to defence and industrial logistics.

By pursuing both civilian and government markets, Skyfly aims to build a broader aircraft business around a common approach to vertical flight, combining simple