Honeywell, Vertical Aerospace Expand Partnership for VX4 Certification

Vertical Aerospace has expanded its partnership with Honeywell to accelerate certification and production of the VX4 electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, targeting certification by 2028 and delivery of 150 units by 2030. The collaboration centers on certifying Honeywell’s Anthem flight deck and compact fly-by-wire flight control system, aiming to meet stringent UK Civil Aviation Authority safety standards with a catastrophic failure rate of one in a billion flight hours, surpassing many competitors. This long-term agreement, valued at approximately $1 billion over the next decade, combines both companies’ expertise and resources to fast-track the VX4’s development and enhance its global certifiability and export potential. Despite the promising technological advances and strategic partnership, Vertical Aerospace faces financial challenges, including operational losses and negative equity, leading some analysts to issue an Underperform rating, while brokerage consensus remains moderately positive. Honeywell maintains a Moderate Buy consensus, reflecting confidence in its role within the rapidly growing urban air mobility market. The partnership exemplifies a significant commitment to advancing sustainable urban air transportation amid increasing industry competition.