Investors & Partners

The KAI X Hybrid-Electric Vertical Take-Off & Landing HEVTOL Platform

(Full technical specification and features)

Summary

A long-range, high-payload hybrid-electric VTOL combining turbofan cruise propulsion with distributed electric lift and cruise augmentation — optimized for commuter travel, extended range trips, mission flexibility, and premium cabin comfort.

Mission roles / target customers

• Strategic rapid transport (VIP / UHNW transfers and commuter UAM)
• Government / defense ISR, personnel insertion, & medevac missions
• Critical logistics to maritime platforms and offshore installations
• Special operations / rescue / disaster response
• Scientific / exploratory support for oceanic operations
  

High-level performance (Standard configuration)

• Maximum takeoff weight (MTOW): 12,000 lb (configurable ±)
• Empty operating weight (EOW): 2,850 lb (airframe + systems, baseline, batteries)
• Full load: 8,175 lb (estimated, fuel + passengers + cargo)
• Seating: 2 (passengers)
• Max cruise speed: 477 kt (≈550 mph / 885 km/h) cruise (hybrid-cruise mode)
• Max speed (dash): 528 kt (≈607mph / 977 km/h) — Full hybrid system power with afterburner-assisted (configureable )
• Hover endurance (all-electric lift mode): up to 25 minutes (typical) with mission batteries; up to 4 hours with APU + generators for hybridap mode;
• Range (long-range fuel-optimised): up to ~4,500 miles (ferry configuration with maximum fuel tanks and hybrid electric cruise assist)
• Standard mission long range (passengers, reserves): 4,500 miles twin turbofan only with intermediate afterburner and electric proposition assist
• Service ceiling: 35,000 ft (flight-level capability for cruise)
• Rate of climb: 4,000 ft/min (initial climb)
• Takeoff / landing: true VTOL / transition to wingborne cruise; runway required: none (VTOL) — short runway ops also possible in STOL mode

Notes: range depends heavily on mission profile, fuel configuration, and use of turbofan cruise vs hybrid-electric cruise. The X is designed modularly so customers can prioritize range, payload, or endurance.

Dimensions

• Length: 28ft (8.53m) (fuselage baseline)
• Wingspan (rotor blade system but built into ducted vtol system): 24 ft (7.31m) (rotating 90 degrees for variable-geometry options during flight and VTOL)
• Height: 8ft (2.44m) (ground stance)
• Cabin length: 8 ft usable cabin
• Cabin width: 7.2 ft (2.13m)
• Cargo (side): Built in luggage compartment to house two Medium sized bags. 26″ × 18″ × 10″ (66 × 45.7 × 25.4 cm). Provided for individual purchase, optional for commercial fleet purchases.

Propulsion & powertrain (hybrid architecture)

Primary cruise propulsion — turbofan module (2 ×)

• Type: Afterburning turbofan class (FJ33-class afterburner-modified) — custom KAI afterburner integration
• Configuration: two fuselage mounting pods (rear) used primarily for high-speed cruise and heavy climb
• Estimated thrust (each): configurable 1,800 lbf thrust dry; afterburner mode higher (platform dependent)
• Role: high-efficiency cruise, long-range burns; rapid dash capability when required.

Distributed electric propulsion (DEP)

• Electric motors: 8 × high-power
  MIT 1 MW Permanent Magnet Motor (nominal 1341 hp each in standard spec) — arranged as distributed cruise/lift augmentation ml and redundancy for VTOL transition
• Thrust: (Electric Only) 25,200lbf
• Role: vertical lift (direct or via fans/ducts), cruise augmentation, redundancy for safety during engine/outage.

Lift rotors / fans

• Lift units: 8 ducted lift fans with 1.5m diameter ducted system (redundant), each with variable pitch (configurable)
• Mounting: wing-integrated and fuselage pod units for balanced lift and redundancy
• Full 90 degree rotation for VTOL and control pitch

Auxiliary Power & Energy Storage

• Primary Fuel: Jet A / JP-8 compatibility (primary for turbofans + fuel cells) secondary for local travel, LNG(Liquid Natural Gas)
• Fuel capacity (standard): ~750 US gallons (configurable tanks / ferry tanks available)
• Range extension: standard 50 gallon fuel cell reserve
• Battery pack: 300kw modular lithium-ion (or lithium-sulfur) high-power battery system with fast discharge C-rates for lift; graphene-enhanced ultracapacitor buffer (optional) for peak power during transition/vertical lift
• On board generator / APU: Honeywell’s 1-Megawatt (MW) Turbogenerator
• Power management: active PDU with redundant channels, thermal management, & predictive load balancing.

Structure & materials

• Primary structure: carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) monocoque fuselage with titanium hardpoints for high-load attachments
• Landing gear: crashworthy energy-absorbing retractable gear (aluminum-titanium composite legs)
• Corrosion protection: marine-grade coatings, sacrificial anodes, and sealed avionics for sea operations
• Armoring (optional): modular ballistic protection packages for military variants

Flight controls, avionics & sensors

• Fly-by-wire: quadruple redundant fly-by-wire flight control system with auto-redundancy management
• Autopilot: full envelope autopilot with auto-transition VTOL→wingborne flight, approach/hover assist, automatic landing, precision hover over moving maritime platforms
• Navigation suite: dual-redundant GNSS (GPS/GLONASS/Galileo), inertial navigation systems (INS), RAIM monitoring, augmentation systems for precision approach
• Communications: SATCOM broadband, multi-band VHF/UHF, secure voice/data, ADS-B IN/OUT, Wi-Fi for cabin
• Mission avionics (configure): AESA radar (compact), EO/IR turret, maritime search radar, LIDAR obstacle avoidance, sonar integration for maritime support (payload dependent)
• Electronic Warfare / Hardening: EMP shielding, MIL-STD 461/464 (configurable for government), secure cryptographic modules (FIPS 140-2/3 style)
• Health monitoring: full airframe & propulsion health monitoring (CBM/PHM) with predictive maintenance telemetry.

Safety & survivability

• Redundancy: multiple propulsion channels, multiple independent lift fans, redundant flight control computers
• Crashworthiness: energy-absorbing subfloors and seats, composite crush zones, flotation gear (automatic inflatable sponsons) for over-water ops
• Ballistic recovery (option): whole-vehicle ballistic parachute (configurable for lighter variants)
• Fire protection: engine compartment suppression, fuel tank inerting system (optional), smoke detection & rapid extinguishing systems
• EMI/EMC protection: MIL-STD filtering & shielding for mission/defense variants

Cabin — comfort, AV, climate & VIP tech

Layout / finish

• Premium configurable interior: options for executive layout (2-4 seats with club configuration), medical configuration, or seated 6 Automous AI piloting for troop transport
• Materials: marine-grade leather, flame-retardant composites, acoustic dampening

Seats

• Seats: heated, ventilated, and multi-zone massaging seats across all passenger seats (pilot seats include additional support & 4-point harness capability
• Heated: PTC heating strips integrated in seat cushions and backrests; thermostat & three heat levels
• Ventilated: multi-speed blower channels built into cushions with HEPA filtration for cabin recirculation
• Massage: 6-zone pneumatic or linear actuator massage with intensity control and pre-sets (long-haul/relax/alert)
• Power draw: typical seat heating 50–120 W per seat, ventilation 6–18 W, massage 30–80 W depending on mode.

Climate & windshields

• Environmental control: dual-zone climate system, HEPA filtration, optional active odor control humidity management for long missions
• Heated windshield: electrically conductive film (transparent PTC matrix) integrated into windshield for anti-ice and de-fog; rapid defrost capability (minutes) and zoned heating to avoid distortion
• Cabin pressure / RVSM: full pressurization for high-altitude cruise, oxygen supply & emergency masks.

Sound system & infotainment

• System: Integrated 10-speaker premium audio system — 9 full-range / midrange satellite speakers + 1 × 10″ subwoofer (woofer)

Speaker layout:

• Front row: 2 small speakers (left/right dash)
• Mid cabin: 4 small speakers (2 per side)
• Rear cabin: 3 small speakers (surround effects)
• Subwoofer: 10″ active sub in rear sidewall or dedicated enclosure under cargo deck.
• Amplification: Class-D 8–12 channel amplifier with DSP, total RMS power 400–800 W (configurable for audiophile packages)
• Features: Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto mirroring (if desired), cabin audio zones, active noise cancellation (ANC integration with cabin microphones)
• Noise management: cabin acoustic engineering to counter rotor/engine frequencies; active ANC for passenger comfort
• Cabin connectivity
• Satellite internet (optional Ku/Ka band), in-flight entertainment (IFE) screens, USB-C & AC outlets in each seat, wireless charging pads.

Mission & utility systems

• Cargo handling: quick-release rails and modular mission pods (medical, ISR, cargo)
• Entry / storage: side cargo space , canopy window for VIP boarding
• External hardpoints: optional for mission pods, rescue hoist, external cargo sling (capacity configurable up to 4,000 lb sling with certified release)
• Sensors: integrated maritime AIS receiver, optional droppable sensor suites, ultrasonic sensors for automatic landing and piloting assistance.

Thermal & cooling

• Thermal management: active liquid cooling loop for high-power battery/motor units; heat exchangers sized for peak hover power draw; redundant pumps & emergency cooling circuits
• Environmental rating: designed to operate from -40°C to +55°C environmental extremes; salt spray and humidity tested for maritime operations.
  

Maintenance & support

• Design for maintainability: line-replaceable units (LRUs), common parts architecture, quick access panels and diagnostic interfaces
• Maintenance intervals: scheduled maintenance based on FH/FH cycles, with CBM predictive alerts from health monitoring
• Ground support: integrated charging & conditioning cart for high-power battery modules, optional foldable maintenance stand and tooling kits.
  

Compliance, certification & standards (targets )

• Civil: designed to meet EASA/FAA certification path for hybrid/eVTOL (special conditions), RTCA DO-178/DO-254 avionics standards for software/hardware, DO-160 environmental testing for avionics.
• Pilots license not required, but suggested. Flight time and training will be provided up to 24 hours.
• Military / government variants: MIL-STD-810 environmental testing, MIL-STD-461 EMI/EMC, ITAR compliance for export-controlled items (configurable)
• Environmental: emissions-compliant cruise modes, options for SAF compatibility and fuel-cell hydrogen options for ultra-low carbon missions

Typical electrical & power budgets

• Avionics & flight systems (cruise): 6–15 kW (steady)
• Cabin services (max with full loads): 3–8 kW (HVAC + galley + IFE)
• Hover peak power (all-electric lift assisted): several MW peak across DEP systems (sourced primarily from battery + turbofan hybrid augmentation) — power system sized with ultracapacitor buffers for short duration peaking.

Optional / configurable packages

• Mission ISR pack: AESA maritime radar, EO/IR turret, SIGINT suite, datalinks, extended comms
• Maritime search & rescue pack: rescue hoist, extended fuel for on-station time, medical interior
• Luxury VIP pack: full cabin audio upgrade, advanced mood lighting, self tinting windows
• Long-range ferry pack: auxiliary fuel pods (certified), additional fuel lines, extended structural reinforcement
• Stealth / low-signature pack (defense): reduced IR signature coatings, radar absorbent materials (RAM), engine masking treatments

Packaging, logistics & typical support equipment

• Transportability: trailerable support kit and modular pods for maritime deployment
• Ground equipment: battery conditioning cart, refueling interface adapted for marine fuel stations, towbar and jacking system