Rolls Royce: Middle East positioned to lead air mobility revolution
The advanced air mobility (AAM) market is advancing rapidly, with new concepts in both urban air mobility (UAM) and regional air mobility (RAM) taking centre stage at major industry events like this year’s Farnborough Airshow.
In a recent update, Rolls-Royce shared its vision for the AAM market, offering insights into the industry’s future trajectory. Industry collaboration, according to the company, is critical to building the ecosystem required for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
Rolls-Royce expects the next two years to be pivotal, with the first eVTOL aircraft set to begin commercial operations.
Middle East market growth
The Middle East and Asia-Pacific (APAC) regions are seen as key markets for AAM development.
“For the UAM market, the next two years will be extremely exciting as we start to see the first eVTOL aircraft in commercial operation,” noted Stefan Breunig, Head of Strategy & Products for AAM at Rolls-Royce. “From a geographic perspective, we expect to see the Middle East and APAC as leading markets, with the Americas and Europe following.”
This optimism is reflected in the Middle East’s growing role as a hub for AAM innovations. With a strong focus on advancing aviation technologies and significant investments in eVTOL, the region is rapidly becoming a key market for early adoption of AAM solutions.
Regional air mobility’s future potential
While UAM often captures more attention, Rolls-Royce sees significant potential in the RAM sector as well.
RAM, sometimes overlooked, could see the introduction of nine-passenger commuter aircraft by the end of the decade. Rolls-Royce believes that hybrid systems using fuel cells or turbogenerators will be essential to unlock the full potential of the RAM market.
The company has already made strides by partnering with MD Aircraft to power a nine-passenger commuter aircraft using its electric propulsion unit (EPU). This partnership is expected to push forward RAM innovation, meeting the demand for more sustainable and efficient air transport.
As the AAM industry scales, challenges related to serial production and volume ramp-up of eVTOL aircraft could slow market growth until 2030, despite increasing demand. Estimates suggest that up to 25,000 eVTOL aircraft could be deployed globally by 2035—more than 60% of today’s civil helicopter fleet.
In addition to production capacity, issues such as air traffic management systems, pilot availability, and the development of vertiport networks must also be addressed to support broader AAM adoption.
Pioneering air mobility
To help overcome these challenges and drive the industry forward, Rolls-Royce is developing a modular and scalable propulsion portfolio. These propulsion units—ranging from 150kW for UAM to 320kW for RAM—are powered by a proprietary inverter platform and can be adapted for various applications.
“Our solutions are energy source agnostic, meaning they can be used in either battery-electric or hybrid-electric configurations,” Breunig explained.
In addition to its propulsion technology, Rolls-Royce is focusing on innovations in manufacturing and supply chains. As demand outpaces current aerospace production capacities, the company sees this as an opportunity to introduce higher levels of automation in manufacturing processes. Beyond production, it plans to offer digitally enabled maintenance services.
Furthermore, partnerships will be essential to scaling the industry, especially as the aerospace-electrical supply chain is still in its infancy. Rolls-Royce emphasises the importance of collaboration with partners and suppliers to achieve the necessary growth in this emerging market.
“We will only be successful by working closely with partners and suppliers. Today, there is no established aerospace-electrical supply chain for the required volumes,” Breunig added.
Looking ahead, Rolls-Royce is making significant progress in integrating its technology into UAM and RAM platforms. The company is working with partners to test electric propulsion systems and plans to deliver technology for an eVTOL demonstrator aircraft later this year.
As the Middle East continues to invest in advanced air transport solutions, it is well-positioned to lead the adoption of both UAM and RAM technologies. With global players like Rolls-Royce driving innovation and addressing key industry challenges, the future of air mobility in the region looks promising.