Ascendance Steps Up Assembly of Atea Hybrid-electric VTOL Prototype

French company is now offering Sterna propulsion system to other aircraft developers

Ascendance Atea eVTOL aircraft — French start-up Ascendance is developing the Atea hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft.

By Charles Alcock • Managing Editor

July 7, 2025

Ascendance expects to complete the assembly of the first full-scale prototype of its Atea hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft by early 2026. This model will feature the latest iteration of the French start-up’s Sterna propulsion system, which has been refined over the past two years with extensive evaluation on an iron bird testbed.

Last month, the Toulouse-based company was boosted by a new partnership with aerospace giant Airbus, which will support its efforts to bring hybrid-electric powertrains into commercial services, potentially on other platforms. It is also involved in a new alliance with Daher, Safran, and Collins Aerospace to develop hybrid-electric propulsion for general aviation aircraft.

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