Vertical Aerospace Strengthens Valo eVTOL Supplier Network With ANH Structure and Northrop Grumman LITEF
Vertical Aerospace (NYSE: EVTL), a global aerospace and technology company focused on electric aviation, has announced long-term supplier agreements with ANH Structure Co., Ltd. and Northrop Grumman LITEF GmbH (NG LITEF) to provide key systems for its Valo electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
Under the agreements, South Korea-based ANH Structure will design, develop, certify, and manufacture a bespoke seating system for Valo’s pilots, observers, and passengers. Meanwhile, Germany-based NG LITEF will supply its LCR-110 inertial reference system, which provides critical position, attitude, and heading information to the aircraft’s flight systems.
The agreements represent another step in strengthening Vertical Aerospace’s supplier network as the company advances the development, certification, and production readiness of its electric aircraft. The partnerships build on an established group of aerospace suppliers that includes Honeywell Aerospace, Sonaca, Evolito, Hyundai WIA, Syensqo, Isoclima, and Astronics.
Strategic Supplier Partnerships Support Valo Development
Vertical Aerospace is developing Valo as a versatile electric aircraft platform intended to serve multiple commercial and defence applications. Its “one platform” strategy encompasses four- and six-passenger cabin configurations, alongside electric, hybrid-electric, and autonomous variants.
The strategy is designed to maximize the use of common systems and technologies across different aircraft configurations. By maintaining a shared platform architecture, Vertical aims to streamline certification, improve manufacturing efficiency, and simplify maintenance and in-service support.
The latest supplier agreements address two important areas of aircraft development: passenger safety and cabin design, as well as flight-critical navigation and reference technology.
Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical Aerospace, said the Valo programme is progressing from advanced design toward an aircraft supported by the industrial capabilities and specialist systems required for certification and production at scale.
He highlighted the technical expertise and certification credentials of both suppliers, noting that their involvement strengthens the company’s supplier ecosystem and supports its strategy of developing a versatile aircraft platform for multiple cabin configurations and missions.
ANH Structure to Develop Lightweight, Safety-Focused Seating
ANH Structure will be responsible for developing a common seating platform for Valo’s pilot, observer, and passenger seats. The system will be tailored to the aircraft’s cabin configurations and designed to meet requirements for safety, comfort, weight efficiency, and passenger experience.
The seating architecture will incorporate ANH’s proprietary 30G energy-absorption technology, which is intended to support occupant protection during high-impact events. The lightweight design is also expected to help address the weight constraints associated with electric aircraft, where overall mass can influence energy consumption and operational performance.
ANH Structure brings integrated engineering, testing, and manufacturing capabilities to the programme. Its experience is expected to support the seating system through detailed design, certification, industrialisation, and eventual serial production.
The company holds Design Organisation Approval and Production Organisation Approval from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). These credentials are relevant to the development and manufacture of aerospace components intended for certified aircraft programmes.
By engaging ANH across multiple stages of the seating programme, Vertical aims to establish a consistent design and production process while preparing for the requirements of aircraft certification and commercial operations.
Hyonsu Ahn, CEO of ANH Structure, said the company was pleased to collaborate with Vertical on a seating system aligned with the Valo aircraft’s passenger safety and premium customer-experience objectives.
He added that ANH intends to apply its lightweight seating architecture and certification expertise to support the programme through design, regulatory approval, and production.
Northrop Grumman LITEF to Supply Flight-Critical Inertial Reference System
Under the second agreement, NG LITEF will supply its LCR-110 inertial reference system for the Valo aircraft. The system provides essential position, attitude, and heading data to onboard flight-critical systems, supporting the aircraft’s ability to determine its orientation and movement.
Inertial reference technology is an important component of aircraft navigation and flight management. It helps provide the information required by onboard systems to monitor aircraft motion and maintain situational awareness, particularly during flight operations when accurate reference data is essential.
NG LITEF is part of Northrop Grumman Corporation’s global aerospace business and has approximately 65 years of experience in inertial navigation, positioning, and reference systems. Its expertise spans aerospace applications that require reliable and high-integrity sensor technology.
The LCR-110 is approved to applicable EASA and U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) technical standards for inertial reference equipment. Its selection adds an established navigation technology supplier to the Valo programme as Vertical continues preparing the aircraft for integration and certification.
Daniel Martens, Director of the Commercial Aviation Business Unit at NG LITEF, said the company brings more than six decades of experience developing high-integrity inertial systems for demanding aerospace platforms.
He noted that NG LITEF looks forward to applying this expertise to Valo and supporting Vertical through system integration, certification, and entry into service.
Strengthening the Path Toward Certification and Production
The agreements with ANH Structure and NG LITEF reinforce Vertical Aerospace’s efforts to establish the industrial and technical foundations required for its next-generation electric aircraft.
The seating partnership focuses on occupant safety, lightweight construction, and cabin requirements, while the inertial reference agreement addresses a critical element of the aircraft’s navigation and flight-system architecture.
Together, these suppliers add specialist capabilities to a broader network supporting the Valo development programme. Working with experienced aerospace manufacturers and systems providers is intended to help Vertical manage technical integration, meet applicable regulatory requirements, and prepare for future production.
The company’s common-platform strategy is also intended to support the development of multiple aircraft configurations without requiring entirely separate systems and manufacturing processes for each variant. If successfully implemented, this approach could help simplify production planning, maintenance, and long-term support across commercial and defence applications.
As the programme advances, supplier integration and certification work will remain important milestones on the path toward commercial operations.
Outlook for Vertical Aerospace
Vertical Aerospace is positioning Valo as part of its broader effort to advance electric aviation through a flexible aircraft platform and an established aerospace supply chain.
The new agreements expand the programme’s supplier base in two important areas: bespoke seating designed around passenger and crew requirements, and inertial reference technology for flight-critical systems.
With ANH Structure contributing seating engineering and manufacturing expertise, and NG LITEF supplying established inertial navigation technology, Vertical aims to strengthen the technical capabilities supporting Valo’s development.
The partnerships reflect the company’s focus on combining specialist aerospace suppliers, common-platform engineering, and certification-oriented development as it works toward bringing its electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft to market.
