Mayman Aerospace awarded $2 million grant for Speeder R&D

Mayman Aerospace, the U.S.-based manufacturer of the dual-use Speeder Air Utility Vehicle (AUV), has been awarded a $2 million grant via an Other Transaction Authority from the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD). Mayman Aerospace was also a previous recipient of a $1.25 million U.S. Air Force Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Direct to Phase II (D2P2) grant under the AFWERX/Agility Prime innovation initiative.

This new round of OTA funding will initially support further Speeder R&D under the auspices of the U.S. DOD. The work will progress the development of the Speeder and associated technologies, specifically in the context of DOD missions. The initial contract term is 18 months, although the OTA framework enables access to additional funding increments through a streamlined process within this time frame. Other Transactions are research and development agreements enabling flexible business arrangements to support technology advancement and rapid prototyping. They have the particular benefit of enabling the DOD to engage more easily with smaller, non-traditional companies and contractors to access their unique technology for military purposes.

Taking off and landing vertically, the Speeder achieves previously impossible speed, payload, and range performance due to vectored thrust from its gimbaled turbine engines. Building on this unique performance, this new round of Defense Department R&D will investigate advanced Speeder technologies, including autonomous navigation. It also aims to deliver a flying prototype aircraft delivering capabilities from a new class of high-performance vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft.

“This funding speaks to The Department of Defense’s confidence in the Speeder aircraft and the associated technology Mayman Aerospace is developing. We are extremely proud to be moving one step closer to delivering never-before-seen mission capability to the men and women working tirelessly on the frontline in defense of our security,” says David Mayman, CEO and founder Mayman Aerospace. “The funding accelerates our development schedule and increases our visibility within the U.S. military, supporting the program’s progress. It’s an extremely significant moment for the company and our team, and we’re excited by the possibilities this brings.”

Building on engine thrust vectoring and control technology, Mayman Aerospace’s Speeder is a multi-mission, turbine-powered VTOL Air Utility Vehicle platform designed for demanding government, military, critical cargo, wildland firefighting, and disaster response missions. Its compact size enables easy transport, with preparations for flight taking just a few minutes.

Its unique engine configuration enables the Speeder to move heavy payloads within a reduced footprint compared to that of a helicopter of similar capacity. The Speeder has no rotor system, gearboxes, or complex transmission, making it less expensive and simpler to maintain than a rotary-wing platform.