Safran Electronics & Defense selected to supply SkyNaute for Eve Air Mobility eVTOL

Safran Electronics & Defense announced yesterday at the Farnborough International Airshow that it has been chosen to supply its latest-generation inertial navigation system, SkyNaute, for the electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft being developed by Eve Air Mobility, Embraer’s subsidiary focused on urban air mobility solutions.

Selection of SkyNaute for the Eve Air Mobility eVTOL programme

Under the programme, Safran will fit each aircraft with two SkyNaute units. SkyNaute is a hybrid inertial navigation system built around Safran’s patented HRG (Hemispherical Resonant Gyroscope) Crystal technology. Designed to meet the toughest requirements in aeronautical applications, it is positioned around very high navigation accuracy, system integrity, and reliability proven in service.

SkyNaute navigation performance when GNSS is unavailable

With its modern architecture, SkyNaute is intended to deliver strong performance and robust continuity of navigation, including in environments where Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals may be unavailable, degraded, or subject to interference. This capability is presented as a key advantage for urban air mobility operations, which demand high levels of safety and dependability.

Originally developed to satisfy stringent defence and civil aviation needs, SkyNaute also reflects Safran’s dual-use approach for the next generation of inertial navigation systems.

Benjamin Declety, Executive Vice-President of the Global Avionics Business Unit at Safran Electronics & Defense, said: “With SkyNaute, Safran Electronics & Defense is putting its inertial navigation expertise at the service of the next generation of civil aviation. We are proud to support Eve Air Mobility in the development of its eVTOL and to contribute to the emergence of new urban air mobility solutions.”

Johann Bordais, CEO of Eve Air Mobility, stated: “Integrating an advanced navigation solution like SkyNaute is essential to maximise the safety, reliability and performance of our eVTOL. By relying on Safran’s recognised expertise in inertial navigation, we strengthen our aircraft architecture and reaffirm our commitment to delivering a robust, certifiable solution for the urban air mobility market.”

Eve Air Mobility prototype flight testing milestone

Eve Air Mobility recently completed the hover and low-speed phase of the flight-test campaign for its full-scale eVTOL prototype, carried out at Embraer’s test centre in Gavião Peixoto, São Paulo (SP), Brazil. The prototype logged around two and a half hours of flight time.

This technology milestone is described as an important step in the development of electric, urban aviation, helping to open the way to a new generation of cleaner, more sustainable mobility solutions.

Information from Safran