Ascendance
Ascendance is a Toulouse-based aerospace company founded in 2018 that develops hybrid-electric propulsion systems (STERNA Hybrid Pack) and a five-seat VTOL aircraft (ATEA) for civil aviation, regional mobility, and defense applications, selling to aircraft manufacturers and operators globally while remaining pre-revenue pending 2029 EASA certification.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersToulouse, France
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Ascendance does
Ascendance Flight Technologies S.A.S. is a Toulouse-based aerospace company founded in 2018 that develops hybrid-electric propulsion systems for aviation and defense. Its core technology, the STERNA Hybrid Pack, combines a propulsion battery, a Hybrid Energy Management System (HEMS), and a Hybrid Core Unit (HCU) into a modular powerplant that uses electric power for high-demand phases (take-off and climb) and thermal generation for cruise, enabling up to 50% fuel savings, up to 80% CO2 reduction versus conventional aircraft, and up to 4x endurance gains over fully electric drones.
Ascendance sells two complementary product lines: STERNA, a propulsion system offered to aircraft manufacturers for both linefit integration and retrofit via Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) across platforms from light helicopters and UAVs to ~70-seat regional aircraft; and ATEA, a five-seat hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft featuring a proprietary Fan-in-Wing architecture with eight embedded rotors and two cruise propellers. Distribution is through direct enterprise sales (anchored by Sales Director Xavier Burgat), regional channel partners (Leman Aviation in Europe, Pen Aviation in Southeast Asia), and direct engagement with defense procurement agencies (DGA in France). The company has accumulated 617 letters of intent valued at approximately $2 billion, though it remains pre-revenue with ATEA first flight planned for 2026 and EASA certification targeted for 2029.
The business is venture-backed with cumulative disclosed funding above €40 million across equity rounds (€21M Series A led by Bpifrance in March 2023) and non-dilutive grants (€12.2M France 2030 Première Usine, €5M Clean Aviation), and is anchored by strategic partnerships with Airbus, Safran, Daher, Capgemini, Exoes, and Turbotech. Operations span a design headquarters in Toulouse and a flight-test/production facility at Muret-Lherm aerodrome, with a team of approximately 80 employees drawn heavily from Airbus E-FAN and ATR alumni.
Ascendance firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ascendance
- Legal name
- Ascendance Flight Technologies S.A.S.
- Website
- https://ascendance-ft.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Ascendance is a Toulouse-based aerospace company founded in 2018 that develops hybrid-electric propulsion systems (STERNA Hybrid Pack) and a five-seat VTOL aircraft (ATEA) for civil aviation, regional mobility, and defense applications, selling to aircraft manufacturers and operators globally while remaining pre-revenue pending 2029 EASA certification.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ascendance industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Hybrid-Electric Aircraft Propulsion
- NAICS
- Aircraft Engine and Engine Parts Manufacturing (336412), Aircraft Manufacturing (336411), Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336413), Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (33641), Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Propulsion Unit and Propulsion Unit Parts Manufacturing (336415), Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336419)
- SIC
- Aircraft Engines & Engine Parts (3724), Aircraft & Parts (3720), Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728), Aircraft (3721), Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760)
- akta.pro primary industry
- VTOL & Hybrid UAV Platforms (IMABAIAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Engine Control, Fuel & Ignition Systems (FADEC/Accessories) (IMABADAK), Primary Airframe Structures (Fuselage, Wing, Empennage) (IMABAEAA), Nacelles, Fairings & Aerodynamic Structures (IMABAEAE)
Keywords
Where Ascendance is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Toulouse
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Ascendance business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Operations
Revenue model
- STERNA Hybrid Pack Sales: Sale of proprietary hybrid-electric propulsion systems to aircraft manufacturers and operators. The system can be integrated into new aircraft (linefit) or retrofitted to existing aircraft via STC (Supplemental Type Certificate). Addresses multiple platforms: VTOL, drones, light helicopters, regional aircraft (6-19 to ~70 PAX).
- Atea Aircraft Sales: Sale of the ATEA hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft for passenger transport, cargo, medical logistics, and defense applications. The company has recorded 617 letters of intent and 245 firm purchase intentions as of 2022.
- Technology Licensing and STC Development: Licensing of hybrid propulsion technology to other aircraft manufacturers. Development of Supplemental Type Certificates (STC) for retrofitting existing aircraft with STERNA systems.
- Defense and Government Contracts: Sovereign hybrid-electric propulsion solutions for military drones and defense applications. Collaboration with DGA (French defense procurement agency) for observation drone demonstrator with Delair.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Microsoft Flight Simulator virtual aircraft |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Ascendance product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ascendance designs, develops, and industrializes hybrid-electric propulsion systems for aviation, centered on its proprietary STERNA Hybrid Pack that integrates a propulsion battery, Hybrid Energy Management System (HEMS), and Hybrid Core Unit (HCU). The STERNA system is sold to aircraft manufacturers for linefit and retrofit (STC) integration into VTOL, regional aircraft, and UAV platforms, and it powers the company's own ATEA five-seat hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft offered for sale to civil and defense operators.
Product overview
Ascendance is a French hybrid-electric propulsion company offering a portfolio of products centered on its proprietary STERNA Hybrid Pack system. The product family consists of: (1) the STERNA Hybrid Pack for fixed-wing aircraft (VTOL and CTOL), a modular system combining proprietary battery technology, energy management software (HOS), and electrical distribution hardware (HCU); (2) the ATEA five-seat hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft, the first aircraft powered by STERNA, designed for passenger transport, cargo, medical, and defense missions; and (3) STERNA adapted for UAVs, serving defense applications from light tactical drones to heavy cargo and MALE-class platforms. The company also provides engineering integration services and system support. All products share the core STERNA hybrid-electric architecture and are designed for EASA certification.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- STERNA: Proprietary hybrid-electric propulsion system offered as Hybrid Pack for aircraft and UAV integration.
- ATEA
Products and services
- STERNA Hybrid Pack Proprietary modular hybrid-electric propulsion system for aircraft and UAV manufacturers; integrates a propulsion battery, the Hybrid Energy Management System (HEMS), and the Hybrid Core Unit (HCU). Designed natively for aviation certification with dual charging (in-flight and ground), and available for linefit integration into new aircraft or retrofit (STC) into existing platforms.
- ATEA Hybrid-Electric VTOL Aircraft Five-seat hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft powered by STERNA, with 8 embedded rotors for vertical take-off/landing and 2 propellers (front and rear) for horizontal flight. Designed as a quieter, lower-emission alternative to helicopters for passenger transport, cargo, medical logistics, and defense missions. Net range of 400 km with 1+4 occupants (or up to 900 km with 1+2 occupants), 15-minute turnaround, and up to 80% CO2 reduction vs conventional aircraft.
- STERNA for UAV / Defence Hybrid-electric propulsion system adapted for unmanned aerial vehicles, covering light tactical drones (100-150 kg MTOW), heavy cargo drones (>100 kg payload), and MALE-class drones (>1T MTOW). Offers up to 4x endurance vs fully electric drones, reduced acoustic and thermal signatures, and in-flight battery recharging for up to 40% additional gains vs thermal drones. Targeted at defense forces and military drone OEMs seeking sovereign propulsion.
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 80% CO2 emission reduction compared to helicopters
- +8 more outcomes
Companies that use Ascendance
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Ascendance technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability2 records
Feature6 records
Ascendance partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- SafrancoreAscendance selected Safran's ENGINeUS electric motor to power the ATEA eVTOL aircraft. The motors are undergoing intensive testing on a test bench. This partnership advances innovative, environmentally responsible aviation through hybrid-electric propulsion. Safran provides the first EASA-certified electric motor.
- AirbuscoreStrategic partnership to jointly explore and develop hybrid-electric technologies for aviation, aiming to reduce emissions and meet industry certification standards. Ascendance contributes expertise in modular, certifiable hybrid-electric systems while Airbus provides industrial scale and global experience.
- LIME Project (Exoes, Basquevolt, RWTH Aachen, Airbus, ATR, Daher)majorClean Aviation program initiative with 5 million euro grant to develop next-generation battery system with composite casing for hybrid-electric regional aircraft. Targets CS-23 and CS-25 certification standards with entry into service planned for ATR 42/72 by 2035. Focuses on safety, modularity, thermal management, and digital twin development.
- Pen AviationmajorMoU to integrate STERNA Hybrid Pack into UAVs, explore ATEA sales and local distribution, and study vertiport-to-vertiport use cases in Southeast Asia. Partnership signed in Kuala Lumpur with Malaysian government presence.
- Pahang Aerospace CitymajorMoU to evaluate opportunities for hybrid propulsion competence center, local co-production, demonstration flights, and broader collaboration within Malaysia's growing aerospace ecosystem.
- CapgeminimajorStrategic partnership to accelerate product development and business transformation. Expanded in 2024 to include comprehensive industrialization strategy covering assembly line architecture, battery make-or-buy decisions, connected services development, and digital continuity. Capgemini engineers support certification processes, systems engineering, flight physics, and propulsion/battery development since 2021.
- TAGINE Consortium (Daher, Safran, Collins Aerospace)majorFrench aerospace consortium to develop hybrid-electric propulsion architecture for 6-10 seat light aircraft, using Daher's Kodiak as the use case platform. Financially supported by France's CORAC and DGAC. Targets ecological transition of general aviation by 2027, a segment with 25,000 aircraft in operation worldwide.
- ExoescoreStrategic partnership for development of high-performance propulsion batteries specifically designed for hybrid-electric aviation. Exoes contributes cell assembly, advanced thermal management, and extreme testing expertise. Batteries power the STERNA Hybrid Pack with enhanced safety and robustness meeting aviation requirements.
- Leman AviationmajorDistribution agreement for ATEA aircraft covering commercial representation, training services, and maintenance across France, Switzerland, Spain, Monaco, and Northern Italy. Leman Aviation also operates Alpes Helicopteres and represents modern aircraft brands.
- Green AeroleasemajorPartnership to develop hybrid-electric aircraft and drone demonstrator platforms using STERNA Hybrid Pack. Green Aerolease serves as financier for hybrid-electric platforms while Finistair operates as appropriate operator. Enables exploration of different aircraft types and drone applications for regional air mobility.
- EENUEEminorAscendance selected by EENUEE (French company developing blended wing body aircraft and hybrid drone projects) to integrate STERNA components into demonstrator drones and 19-seat regional aircraft development.
- DelairmajorTechnology collaboration to develop hybrid-electric fixed-wing observation drone demonstrator for DGA (French defense procurement agency) applications. Sterna technology integrated into Delair's DT46 drone for observation missions supporting defense modernization.
- Jean-Baptiste DjebbarimajorFormer French Minister of Transport joins Ascendance's strategic committee. Brings perspective at intersection of aerospace, industry, sustainable mobility, and new energy sources. Former pilot and business aviation executive with expertise in decarbonized mobility policy.
- Oracle Cloud InfrastructuremajorCloud infrastructure partnership enabling 20x faster computing time and 5x reduction in development cycles using NVIDIA A100 GPUs. Helps meet EASA regulatory certification requirements and positions for long-term data aggregation and AI-powered analytics. Reduces computing carbon footprint by 15-fold.
Scale indicators14 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Ascendance competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Joby Aviation: Joby is a US-based eVTOL aircraft developer building a piloted, zero-emission air taxi with vertical takeoff and cruise flight. Directly comparable to Ascendance as a hybrid/VTOL aircraft developer targeting regional air mobility with a comparable certification timeline and similar operator-customer profile.
- Eviation Aircraft: Eviation is developing the Alice all-electric commuter aircraft for regional passenger transport. Comparable as a next-generation electric/hybrid regional aircraft OEM pursuing FAA type certification with similar operator pre-order profiles (Cape Air, DHL, etc.).
- Heart Aerospace: Heart Aerospace is a Swedish developer of the ES-30 hybrid-electric regional aircraft targeting 19-30 seat configurations for short-haul routes. Highly comparable as a hybrid-electric propulsion aircraft company targeting regional aviation decarbonization with similar partner ecosystem (Airbus, Saab, BAE Systems) and overlapping customer base.
- Lilium: Lilium developed the 7-Seater Lilium Jet eVTOL regional aircraft with ducted electric fans. A direct peer in the hybrid/VTOL regional aviation category; the company's recent insolvency and restructuring illustrate both the opportunity and execution risk in this market segment.
- Vertical Aerospace: Vertical Aerospace is a UK-based eVTOL developer building the VX4 aircraft for urban air mobility. Comparable as a competing eVTOL aircraft OEM pursuing concurrent type certification and pre-orders from regional operators across Europe and Asia.
- MagniX: MagniX is a US-based manufacturer of electric propulsion systems for aviation (magni250, magni500) supplying Eviation, Harbour Air, and Cessna eCaravan retrofit programs. Comparable as a pure-play aviation propulsion system supplier targeting regional aircraft electrification—directly competitive with STERNA Hybrid Pack for OEM linefit and retrofit STC opportunities.
- ZeroAvia: ZeroAvia is developing hydrogen-electric powertrains for 9-19 seat regional aircraft (ZA600) targeting entry into service around 2025-2027. Comparable as an alternative clean-propulsion technology developer for regional aviation pursuing concurrent type certification with overlapping operator and OEM partners (Airbus, Heathrow, Alaska Air).
- Archer Aviation: Archer is developing the Midnight eVTOL aircraft for urban air mobility, with backing from United Airlines and Stellantis. Comparable as a competing eVTOL/air-taxi OEM pursuing FAA type certification for commercial passenger operations in overlapping regional mobility use cases.
Broad incumbents
- Safran: Safran is a major Tier-1 aerospace propulsion and equipment OEM supplying the ENGINeUS electric motors used in Ascendance's ATEA aircraft. Comparable as a broader aerospace propulsion incumbent participating in hybrid-electric aviation via partnerships (TAGINE consortium, ENGINeUS supply, Safran Tech research) overlapping Ascendance's addressable market.
- Rolls-Royce Electrical: Rolls-Royce is developing hybrid-electric and hydrogen propulsion systems for regional aviation through its Electrical division, including the Spirit of Innovation and partnerships on regional hybrid-electric demonstrators. Comparable as a broader incumbent propulsion player with overlapping hybrid-electric aviation programs targeting similar CS-25 regional aircraft segments.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks2 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Ascendance social profiles
Digital presenceAscendance financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ascendance leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Ascendance funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds9 records
Investors14 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ascendance M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ascendance
What does Ascendance do?
Ascendance designs, develops, and industrializes hybrid-electric propulsion systems for aviation, centered on its proprietary STERNA Hybrid Pack that integrates a propulsion battery, Hybrid Energy Management System (HEMS), and Hybrid Core Unit (HCU). The STERNA system is sold to aircraft manufacturers for linefit and retrofit (STC) integration into VTOL, regional aircraft, and UAV platforms, and it powers the company's own ATEA five-seat hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft offered for sale to civil and defense operators.
Is Ascendance a public or private company?
Ascendance is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Ascendance founded?
Ascendance was founded in 2018. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Ascendance based?
Ascendance is headquartered in Toulouse, France, in the Europe region.
How does Ascendance make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. STERNA Hybrid Pack Sales are the primary driver. The others are atea Aircraft Sales, technology Licensing and STC Development and defense and Government Contracts.
Who are Ascendance's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Joby Aviation, Eviation Aircraft, Heart Aerospace, Lilium, Vertical Aerospace, MagniX, ZeroAvia and Archer Aviation. Broad incumbents are Safran and Rolls-Royce Electrical.
Does Ascendance have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ascendance.
What industry is Ascendance in?
Ascendance's product category is Hybrid-Electric Aircraft Propulsion. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAIAC, VTOL & Hybrid UAV Platforms, with a secondary code of IMABADAK, Engine Control, Fuel & Ignition Systems (FADEC/Accessories). Its NAICS code is 336412 and its SIC code is 3724.