<ul>
<li>Beta Technologies accelerates Alia MV250 development by six months</li>
<li>FAA selects Beta, Joby Aviation, Archer Aviation for air mobility pilot programs</li>
<li>Beta has 890 firm aircraft orders, majority for Alia VTOL</li>
</ul>
By Dan Catchpole
March 9 (Reuters) - Electric aerospace company Beta Technologies (BETA.N) is speeding up development of its Alia MV250 military cargo drone by six months, with the first flight now expected this year, Beta chief executive Kyle Clark told Reuters in an interview. The accelerated timeline reflects Beta’s increased focus and spending on military programs, he said.
“We’ve advanced our MV250, and there are big thematic tailwinds right now from the administration, compelling us to invest further in defense,” he said.
Like a helicopter, the electric-powered MV250 can take off and land vertically and will be able to carry up to 2,000 pounds of cargo.
The Vermont-based company, which designs and makes electric aircraft, advanced electric propulsion systems, charging systems and aircraft components, raised $1 billion in its November public offering.
Beta is also ramping up production of its commercial Alia variants: A vertical take-off and landing, or VTOL, version and a conventional take-off and landing, or CTOL, version. It expects to produce 20 aircraft this year and 80 next year, Clark said. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) picked Beta’s Alia VTOL and its charging systems to participate in seven of eight pilot programs to spur integration of e-VTOLs, drones and air taxis into the country’s aviation networks, the agency announced on Monday. Electric-aircraft makers Joby Aviation (JOBY.N) , Archer Aviation (ACHR.N) and Electra were also selected for multiple programs. Share prices for the three publicly traded companies all rose Monday after the programs and participants were announced. Beta shares ended the day up 12%, while Joby and Archer gained 5% and 4%, respectively.
Beta expects to have the Alia CTOL certified by the FAA by mid-2027, with the VTOL version being certified by mid-2028, Clark said.
The company has firm orders for 890 aircraft - 70% for the Alia VTOL and 30% for the CTOL.

CORRECTED-Beta Technologies speeds up development of military cargo drone, picked for FAA pilot programs