BETA Technologies collaborates with Near Earth Autonomy to develop military drones.

Electric aircraft manufacturer BETA Technologies announced a partnership with Near Earth Autonomy to develop unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for the military. Flight tests are scheduled to begin in the first half of 2026. BETA CEO Kyle Clark stated that the development and full demonstration of the autonomous system is expected to take a year, with deployment potentially within 18 to 36 months. BETA primarily designs and manufactures electric aircraft and propulsion systems. Due to regulatory hurdles delaying commercial air taxi services, companies in this sector are increasingly exploring the defense and logistics markets to diversify their revenue streams.