GKN Aerospace is to develop and supply the electrical wiring for Lilium’s jet-eVTOL aircraft.
The two companies have agreed to partner on the design and build of an integrated and certifiable Lilium’s electrical wiring interconnection system (EWIS).
Final assembly of the Lilium Jet is due to start this year.
GKN will build the EWIS hardware sets at its facility in the Netherlands and support Lilium with on-site installation into the Lilium Jet at Lilium’s final assembly line at Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany.
The partnership covers the integrated design of the low-voltage and high-voltage electrical interconnections of the Lilium Jet. This includes the integration of all wire bundles in the Lilium Jet; the integration of the electrical EWIS components into operational systems to safely fly the Lilium Jet, and the development of innovative high voltage, high power interconnection solutions.
Lilium already has agreements in place with suppliers for the Lilium Jet’s aerostructures, avionics, battery cells, energy management systems, e-motors, propulsion system, aircraft interior and landing gear.
Yves Yemsi, chief operating officer at Lilium said, “We are proud to have brought another outstanding aerospace player onto the Lilium Jet team. GKN Aerospace has enormous experience developing certifiable EWIS systems and impressed us with their dedicated offering for the Lilium Jet.”
John Pritchard, president of business line civil airframe at GKN Aerospace said, “This collaboration provides a great opportunity to leverage and build on the capabilities each company brings.
“Companies like Lilium will be delivering the solutions that will enable passengers to travel sustainably and help deliver net zero carbon by 2050. We are proud to be on board and helping that reality come to life with our technology.”
Late last year Lilium announced it had raised US$199 million in its latest funding round from private investors to help advance commercialization efforts.
The company began flight testing its 5th generation technology demonstrator, Phoenix 2 in Spain during April last year.
In this Q&A, Alastair McIntosh, Lilium’s chief technology officer, describes the company’s approach to flight test and certification of its eVTOL aircraft.
