BLUJ Aerospace unveils 2nd gen cargo eVTOL prototype, eyes commercial deployment by 2027

Hyderabad: Deeptech aerospace player from Hyderabad, BluJ Aerospace, has unveiled its first commercial-grade electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft -- Gen2.The aircraft, which is currently undergoing active flight testing, has also completed a pilot deployment with a leading power sector PSU and is working with defence PSUs and Indian defence primes, BluJ founder and CEO Amar Sri Vatsavaya said on Tuesday.He said Gen2 was developed for heavy logistics missions over a sub-10 km range and can carry payloads of more than 200 kg under a 500 kg maximum takeoff weight configuration.According to him, the company expects to commence commercial deployment of its cargo VTOLs sometime in 2027 with a full battery-powered version and is currently undergoing its Series-A fundraise, which could be in the region of $10-15 million.The Gen2 aircraft is built on BluJ’s VANTIS platform, a common architecture spanning airframe, propulsion, controls and autonomy systems. The company said the platform is designed to support multiple VTOL variants for urban and regional cargo operations, with passenger mobility as a longer-term goal.

Pointing out that currently 50% of its platform is built in-house, Sri Vatsavaya said the company wants to push it to 75%.BluJ co-founder and chief technology officer Uttam Kumar Dharmapuri said the company is increasingly becoming self-reliant and builds its own battery packs, electronic boards, motor controller and propellers that are under testing so that it can completely replace the powertrain with its own products.

He said the company does not source anything from China in terms of critical components.Along with battery-powered VTOLs, BluJ is also working on hydrogen-electric propulsion technology, including an in-house Type IV composite hydrogen tank. The startup is targeting flight-ready hydrogen-electric variants for launch in 2027-28 through collaborations with Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd and Cochin International Airport Ltd.The Hyderabad startup, which was set up in 2022, is backed by Endiya Partners and Ideaspring Capital and counts Skyroot co-founder Pawan Kumar Chandana as advisor.The company operates from a 40,000-square-foot facility in Hyderabad and employs more than 50 engineers and aerospace specialists.The aircraft, which is currently undergoing active flight testing, has also completed a pilot deployment with a leading power sector PSU and is working with defence PSUs and Indian defence primes, BluJ founder and CEO Amar Sri Vatsavaya said on Tuesday.He said Gen2 has been developed for heavy logistics missions over sub-10 km range and can carry payloads of more than 200 kg under a 500 kg maximum takeoff weight configuration.According to him, the company expects to commence commercial deployment of its cargo VTOLs sometime in 2027 with a full battery powered version and is currently undergoing its Series-A fundraise, which could be in the region of $10-15 million.The Gen2 aircraft is built on BluJ’s VANTIS platform, a common architecture spanning airframe, propulsion, controls and autonomy systems. The company said the platform is designed to support multiple VTOL variants for urban and regional cargo operations, with passenger mobility as a longer-term goal.Pointing out that currently 50% of its platform is build in-house, Sri Vatsavaya said the company wants to push it to 75%.BluJ cofounder and chief technology officer Uttam Kumar Dharmapuri said the company is increasingly becoming self-reliant and builds its own battery packs, electronic boards, motor controller and propellers that are under testing so that it can completely replace the powertrain with its own products and does not source anything from China in terms of critical components.The Hyderabad startup, which was set up in 2022, is backed by Endiya Partners and Ideaspring Capital and counts Skyroot co-founder Pawan Kumar Chandana as advisor.The company operates from a 40,000-square-foot facility in Hyderabad and employs more than 50 engineers and aerospace specialists.Along with its battery-powered aircraft programme, BluJ is also developing hydrogen-electric propulsion technology, including an in-house Type IV composite hydrogen tank.The startup said flight-ready hydrogen-electric variants are targeted for launch in 2027-28 through collaborations with Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd and Cochin International Airport Ltd.