MD Aircraft and ST Airborne Systems explore electric platform for future SAR and surveillance missions

German electric aircraft developer MD Aircraft and Swedish mission systems specialist ST Airborne Systems have signed a letter of intent (LoI) to explore the integration of electric aircraft technology with airborne surveillance systems for future special mission operations.

The agreement, announced during the Farnborough International Airshow, will examine how MD Aircraft’s electric aircraft platform could be combined with ST Airborne Systems’ mission management and sensor technologies for applications including search and rescue (SAR), maritime surveillance, environmental monitoring, wildfire detection, and oil spill response.

The collaboration remains at an early stage, with the companies describing the agreement as an opportunity to investigate how electric propulsion could support future airborne surveillance missions while reducing emissions.

MD Aircraft is developing the MDA1 eViator, an electric aircraft intended for regional air mobility. The company said initial flight testing was planned for early 2028, with certification and entry into service targeted for 2030.

ST Airborne Systems, which has supplied airborne mission systems for five decades, develops surveillance technology for fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and uncrewed aerial vehicles. Its MSS 8000 mission system supports a range of special mission applications, including maritime patrol, environmental monitoring, SAR, wildfire detection, and vessel traffic monitoring.

Carl-Fredrik Hammarbäck, CEO of ST Airborne Systems, said the collaboration would allow the companies to explore how electric aircraft could support longer-term sustainability goals while maintaining the operational capabilities required by mission operators.

By combining electric aircraft with airborne surveillance systems, the companies said they aimed to investigate future platforms capable of conducting persistent monitoring missions with a reduced environmental footprint.

While the agreement does not include aircraft orders or operational commitments, it reflects growing industry interest in applying electric propulsion to special missions aviation as manufacturers and system developers look for lower-emission alternatives for surveillance and public safety operations.

Elsewhere at the Farnborough International Airshow, Saudi Arabia’s The Helicopter Company ordered 11 additional Leonardo AW139 helicopters, expanding its long-term fleet modernization program, which includes support for emergency medical services.