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Elektra Solar GmbH

A German aerospace firm and DLR spin-off, Elektra Solar GmbH specializes in solar-electric aircraft. Its portfolio includes tactical VTOL drones and HALE/MALE platforms for multi-day ISR missions. Key differentiators are extreme endurance, low acoustic signature, and advanced autonomous systems for dual-use applications.

Gov. Experience
Confirmed Manufacturer
70% Data Quality

Contact Information

Am Penzinger Feld 15, 86899 Landsberg am Lech, Germany
+49 (0) 176 - 23 411 491 / +49 (0) 151 - 41 934 924
[email protected]

Company Overview

Elektra Solar GmbH is a specialized German aerospace company and a spin-off from the German Aerospace Center (DLR), focusing on the design and manufacturing of solar-electric aircraft. The company produces a range of unmanned systems, from tactical VTOL drones to stratospheric High-Altitude Long-Endurance (HALE) platforms designed for persistent Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) and communications missions.

Products & Services

Elektra Eagle (UAS Version)

HALE ISR Platform

A stratospheric, solar-electric High-Altitude Long-Endurance (HALE) platform designed for multi-day observation and communication network missions. It functions as a persistent, high-altitude pseudo-satellite.

Key Features:

  • Multi-day flight endurance
  • 20,000 m (65,600 ft) service ceiling
  • 100 kg payload capacity
  • Extremely low noise signature (< 50 dB)
  • Triple-redundant autopilot system
Target Market: Military ISR, Communications Relay, Border Surveillance, Environmental Monitoring

Elektra Two Solar (UAV Version)

MALE ISR Platform

A long-endurance, solar-electric aircraft optimized for aerial earth observation and research missions. It can operate for over 24 hours continuously, serving as a flexible pseudo-satellite.

Key Features:

  • > 24 hours flight endurance
  • 8,000 m (26,200 ft) service ceiling
  • Up to 100 kg payload capacity
  • Available as pure UAV or Optionally Piloted Aircraft (OPA)
Target Market: Aerial Geodata Acquisition, Scientific Research, Infrastructure Monitoring

Elektra VTOL

Tactical eVTOL Drone

A runway-independent electric VTOL drone designed for robust and simple tactical deployment. Its fixed-engine design enhances reliability for forward-deployed operations.

Key Features:

  • Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL)
  • Up to 3 hours endurance with solar range extender
  • 2 kg payload capacity
  • Payload options include gimbals with real-time surveillance and target tracking
Target Market: Tactical Surveillance, Disaster Management, First Responders, Infrastructure Inspection

Business Information

Company Type
Private
Growth
The company is transitioning from a primary R&D focus to series production for key models (Elektra VTOL), indicating a strategic move towards commercialization and market expansion. Stated customer interest from Germany, Switzerland, and France supports this growth outlook.

Technologies

Solar-Electric Propulsion: Core technology enabling extreme long-endurance flights for persistent operations.High-Efficiency Aerodynamics: Glider-like designs with high-aspect-ratio wings (e.g., 45:1 glide ratio) for minimal power consumption.Advanced Autonomy: In-house development of triple-redundant autopilot systems for fully autonomous missions, including takeoff and landing.Low Observability: Combination of electric propulsion and efficient aerodynamics results in a very low acoustic signature (<50-55 dB).Digital Aircraft Platform (DAP): Cloud-based system for fleet management, remote inspection, and predictive maintenance.

Market Position

A niche specialist in the solar-electric HALE/MALE UAV market, competing with major aerospace and defense firms. The company positions itself as a high-tech innovator, leveraging its German Aerospace Center (DLR) heritage to project technical credibility.

Competitive Advantages

  • Extreme Endurance: Solar-electric power enables multi-day and 24hr+ missions, a key differentiator for ISR.
  • Low Acoustic Signature: Provides a significant tactical advantage for covert surveillance missions.
  • High Reliability: Design philosophy emphasizes dual and triple redundancy in critical flight systems.
  • R&D Heritage: As a DLR spin-off, the company possesses a strong foundation in advanced aerospace research and engineering.

Data Quality

Overall Quality70%
URLs Analyzed86
Last Updated8/26/2025