Electra today announced the launch of “Electra Defense,” a new business unit focused on meeting defense mission needs, as the company develops the EL9, a dual-use, nine-passenger hybrid-electric ultra-short takeoff and landing (ultra-STOL) aircraft for the U.S. military. ‍With the ability to take off and land in spaces as short as 150 feet, Electra’s EL9 enables access to helicopter-sized areas in austere or remote environments while maintaining the safety, cost, and long-range benefits of a fixed-wing aircraft.