Vertical Aerospace Enters Strategic Partnership with Hyundai WIA to Supply Landing Gear System for Valo eVTOL Aircraft
Vertical Aerospace, a global aerospace and technology company focused on pioneering electric aviation, has announced a new long-term strategic partnership with Hyundai WIA, a subsidiary of Hyundai Corporation and a globally recognized mobility and advanced manufacturing company. Under this agreement, Hyundai WIA will supply the landing gear system for Valo, Vertical’s next-generation electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
The collaboration marks another significant step forward in Vertical Aerospace’s efforts to build a robust, certified-ready supply chain as it advances toward the commercialization of its flagship aircraft programme.
Hyundai WIA to Deliver Bespoke Landing Gear System for Valo
As part of the agreement, Hyundai WIA will take full responsibility for the end-to-end development and manufacturing of a bespoke landing gear system tailored specifically for the Valo aircraft. This includes complete design ownership, engineering development, validation, and production of the system.
Landing gear is a critical subsystem in any aircraft, and in the case of eVTOL platforms such as Valo, it plays an even more important role due to the unique vertical take-off and landing operations, repeated load cycles, and stringent safety requirements associated with urban air mobility missions.
Hyundai WIA’s expertise in precision manufacturing, lightweight structural engineering, and mobility systems is expected to support Vertical Aerospace’s goal of achieving a highly efficient, durable, and certification-compliant landing gear solution.
Stirling Dynamics Joins as Key Engineering Partner
To support Hyundai WIA in this high-complexity aerospace development programme, Stirling Dynamics, a UK-based aerospace engineering firm with over 30 years of experience in certified aircraft systems, will serve as a key design and engineering partner.
Stirling Dynamics has a long-standing reputation for delivering high-integrity aerospace solutions, including flight control systems, landing gear design support, and certification-driven engineering services. In this partnership, the company will work closely with Hyundai WIA to ensure that the landing gear system meets strict regulatory requirements and aligns with global aviation certification standards.
The collaboration between Hyundai WIA and Stirling Dynamics is expected to combine advanced manufacturing capability with deep aerospace certification expertise, strengthening the technical foundation of the Valo programme.
Strengthening Vertical Aerospace’s Global Supplier Ecosystem
The Hyundai WIA partnership further expands Vertical Aerospace’s growing network of global suppliers as the Company continues progressing toward certification and eventual commercial deployment of Valo.
Over recent years, Vertical has systematically built a supply chain designed to support scalable production and aviation-grade reliability. The company has already secured partnerships with several leading aerospace and technology providers across key aircraft systems.
These include:
- Honeywell – providing flight control and aircraft management systems
- Aciturri – supplying airframe structural components
- Evolito – delivering electric propulsion units
- Syensqo – supplying advanced composite materials
- Isoclima – providing aircraft transparencies
The addition of Hyundai WIA to this ecosystem represents another important milestone in establishing a diversified, industrial-grade aerospace supply chain capable of supporting certified production at scale.
By working with globally recognized suppliers across multiple disciplines, Vertical aims to reduce development risk, improve system integration efficiency, and accelerate its path toward certification readiness.
Leadership Perspectives on the Partnership
Stuart Simpson, Chief Executive Officer of Vertical Aerospace, emphasized the strategic importance of the agreement in strengthening the company’s industrial capabilities as it moves closer to certification and commercialization.
He stated:
“As we advance toward certification and industrialization, securing world-class suppliers remains central to our strategy. Hyundai WIA brings deep expertise in advanced manufacturing and high-integrity systems, further strengthening the industrial foundation supporting Valo’s path to commercial service.”
His comments highlight Vertical’s focus not only on aircraft development but also on building a resilient and scalable production ecosystem capable of meeting future demand in the emerging eVTOL market.
From Hyundai WIA’s perspective, the partnership represents a meaningful entry into the next generation of aviation mobility technologies.
Ho-Young Lee, Vice President of Hyundai WIA, commented:
“We are proud to partner with Vertical Aerospace on the Valo programme and support the development of next-generation electric aviation. We look forward to working closely with Vertical and Stirling Dynamics to deliver a robust, innovative landing gear solution that meets the highest safety standards and performance.”
This statement underscores Hyundai WIA’s commitment to expanding its presence in advanced mobility sectors, particularly in electrified and next-generation transportation platforms.
Progress Toward Certification and Flight Milestones
The announcement comes at a time when Vertical Aerospace is reporting continued technical and developmental progress on its Valo programme.
Recently, the company successfully completed a two-way piloted transition flight, a significant engineering milestone that validates the aircraft’s core operating capabilities. This achievement demonstrates the transition between vertical lift and forward flight, a fundamental requirement for eVTOL aircraft performance and safety certification.
Such milestones are critical in proving that the aircraft can operate safely and efficiently across all intended flight modes, bringing it closer to regulatory approval and commercial readiness.
Advancing Toward Critical Design Review (CDR)
Vertical Aerospace is now progressing toward the Critical Design Review (CDR) phase, one of the most important stages in aircraft development and certification.
CDR represents the point at which the aircraft design is effectively finalized, establishing a certifiable baseline for all systems. Once completed, it enables the production of certification-conforming aircraft for full-scale testing.
The completion of CDR will effectively “lock” key design elements of Valo, including structural architecture, system integration frameworks, supply chain configurations, and certification strategies. It also confirms alignment with aviation regulatory requirements, ensuring that the aircraft is ready for the next phase of validation and compliance testing.
Following CDR, Vertical Aerospace will transition into the build and test phase for certification prototypes, bringing the company significantly closer to commercial production.
Building a Scalable Future for Electric Aviation
The partnership with Hyundai WIA reflects a broader trend within Vertical Aerospace’s strategy: aligning with established industrial leaders to support the transition from prototype development to certified manufacturing.
As the global eVTOL sector moves toward commercialization, the ability to secure reliable, scalable, and aviation-certified supply chains is becoming a defining factor for success. Landing gear systems, in particular, require high structural integrity, repeatable manufacturing precision, and compliance with rigorous aviation safety standards.
By partnering with Hyundai WIA and leveraging Stirling Dynamics’ certification expertise, Vertical Aerospace is reinforcing its position as one of the companies actively building a production-ready ecosystem for electric aviation.
The strategic partnership between Vertical Aerospace and Hyundai WIA represents an important milestone in the development of the Valo eVTOL programme. With Hyundai WIA responsible for delivering a bespoke landing gear system and Stirling Dynamics providing engineering support, the collaboration strengthens both the technical and industrial foundations of the aircraft.
Combined with Vertical’s expanding supplier network and continued progress toward Critical Design Review, the agreement underscores the Company’s steady advancement toward certification, industrialization, and eventual commercial deployment of its electric aviation platform.
As the eVTOL industry continues to evolve, partnerships like this highlight the increasing convergence of aerospace engineering, advanced manufacturing, and sustainable mobility innovation—positioning Vertical Aerospace among the key players shaping the future of urban air transport.
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