Tata Elxsi and Sarla Aviation signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Bengaluru on 1 September 2026 to develop Shunya, an indigenous electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft. Shunya is planned as a seven-seater eVTOL with six passengers and one pilot, and it is designed for runway-independent operations.
Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing Aircraft
An electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, or eVTOL, is an aircraft that uses electric propulsion for vertical lift and landing. eVTOL aircraft are associated with advanced air mobility, a sector that includes short-range urban and regional air transport systems.
Shunya Project Features
Shunya has been described as an aircraft with an operational range exceeding 300 kilometres. Its design combines vertical take-off capability with fixed-wing cruise efficiency, which is a configuration used in several hybrid air mobility concepts.
Roles Under the Memorandum of Understanding
Under the agreement, Tata Elxsi will provide engineering support in avionics, flight control systems, software integration, testing, verification, and validation. Sarla Aviation will lead the core design, development, and type certification of the Shunya platform.
Important Facts for Exams
- eVTOL stands for electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft.
- DGCA stands for Directorate General of Civil Aviation, which is India’s civil aviation regulator.
- Type certification is a formal approval process for an aircraft design under aviation safety rules.
- Advanced air mobility includes aircraft concepts for short-distance passenger transport and cargo movement.
Regulatory Milestone
Sarla Aviation secured Design Organisation Approval from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation on 8 August 2026. The companies have set a target of 18 to 24 months for the first flight of Shunya, followed by formal certification processes.
