NOEMI Aerospace expands amphibious aircraft for SAR, firefighting, and defense

NOEMI Aerospace has expanded its long-term strategy beyond passenger transport, positioning its fully electric amphibious aircraft program as the foundation for a broader multi-mission aircraft platform.

The company said the strategy builds proprietary technologies in aerodynamics, hydrodynamics, composite structures, and propulsion integration, allowing future aircraft derivatives to share common architecture and certification pathways.

While NOEMI remains focused on developing a fully electric amphibious aircraft for regional passenger transport, the company is evaluating a range of additional applications. These include cargo transport, government and special missions applications such as search and rescue (SAR) and aerial firefighting, and military dual-use roles.

“NOEMI was always designed as more than a single aircraft,” said Eric Lithun, Founder and CEO of NOEMI Aerospace. “We are building a platform that can evolve over time and address multiple markets while leveraging shared technology, engineering, and certification pathways.”

The company also outlined plans for a broader propulsion roadmap. Although fully electric propulsion remains central to the program, NOEMI said future mission requirements could lead to hybrid-electric or conventional fuel-powered variants where increased range, payload or operational flexibility were required.

NOEMI confirmed progress across the program, including completion of the preliminary design review (PDR), ongoing prototype development, and propulsion testing, alongside advances under its pre-application contract agreement with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The company is targeting first flight in 2027 and commercial entry into service by 2030.

Meanwhile, FlySight recently completed initial integration tests of its OPENSIGHT Mission Console and Automatic Target Recognition (ATR) system aboard the AW101 helicopter in Norway.