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Charlotte Bailey

Ascendance has secured €12.2 million ($14.25 million) to develop its proprietary hybrid-electric propulsion system, applicable to drones and its in-development Atea VTOL aircraft. This four-year funding commitment—made available through the France 2030 investment program and announced on April 9— will enable Ascendance to scale its industrial efforts, explained the company. 
According to the French start-up, the new government backing will help it to achieve a key milestone in it work to start series production of its&nbsp;Sterna Hybrid Pack propulsion system, including its battery technology. The company said that it also plans to progress plans for aircraft production by establishing a dedicated manufacturing facility for assembly civil and defense models, including the Atea, "in the medium term."
In March, Ascendance’s full-scale Atea demonstrator aircraft entered its <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/futureflight/2026-03-05/ascendances-aircraft-enters-final-integration-phase">final assembly</a> phase at the company’s facility in Toulouse. With the airframe’s structure now complete, the integration of propulsion elements, flight control system, and avionics are set to be completed by the end of the year. 
Ascendance also aims to pursue separate applications for its modular Sterna hybrid-electric modular propulsion system to power fixed wing aircraft and drones.&nbsp;In February 2025, Ascendance announced it was partnering with French drone manufacture <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/futureflight/2025-02-10/ascendances-hybrid-propulsion-system-power-french-drones">Delair</a> to integrate Sterna within the former’s DT46 long-range, fixed-wing drone. &nbsp;
“At a moment when the limits of all-electric and uncertainties around hydrogen challenge the sector, hybrid-electric is establishing itself as an immediately deployable solution to reduce emissions while guaranteeing performance and autonomy,” concluded Ascendance. Initial Sterna series production will begin at its existing facilities at Muret L'Herm, in southern France.

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French Funding Backs Ascendance’s Sterna Hybrid-Electric Propulsion System

 Support from France 2030 will help enable series production of propulsion system

Ascendance has secured €12.2 million to advance its proprietary hybrid-electric Sterna propulsion system, applicable to drones and its in-development Atea aircraft.

French Funding Backs Ascendance’s Hybrid Propulsion System

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