Vertical Aerospace has entered into a long-term partnership with Hyundai WIA to develop and manufacture the bespoke landing gear system for the Valo electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft.
The agreement tasks Hyundai WIA, a subsidiary of Hyundai Corporation, with the end-to-end design and production responsibility for the lightweight landing gear. To support the technical requirements of the certified aircraft program, UK-based engineering firm Stirling Dynamics will act as a key design partner, bringing over 30 years of industry experience to the project.
This collaboration marks a significant expansion of Vertical’s supplier ecosystem as the company moves toward the certification and commercialization phases of the Valo. Hyundai WIA joins a group of major aerospace suppliers already integrated into the program, including Honeywell for flight control systems, Aciturri for airframe structures, and Evolito for electric propulsion units. The addition of Hyundai WIA is intended to provide a mature manufacturing foundation capable of supporting scaled production.
Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical Aerospace, said, “As we advance toward certification and industrialization, securing world-class suppliers remains central to our strategy. Hyundai WIA brings deep expertise in advanced manufacturing and high-integrity systems, further strengthening the industrial foundation supporting Valo’s path to commercial service.”
The partnership follows a technical milestone in which Vertical successfully completed a two-way piloted transition flight, validating the aircraft’s core operating mode. The program is now moving toward the Critical Design Review (CDR), a phase that establishes the certifiable design baseline. Completing the CDR will finalize the supply chain configuration and lock in key design elements before the commencement of full-scale certification testing.
Ho-Young Lee, Vice President of Hyundai WIA, added, “We are proud to partner with Vertical Aerospace on the Valo programme and support the development of next-generation electric aviation. We look forward to working closely with Vertical and Stirling Dynamics to deliver a robust, innovative landing gear solution that meets the highest safety standards and performance.”
By integrating specialized suppliers like Syensqo for composite materials and Isoclima for transparencies alongside Hyundai WIA’s mobility and manufacturing capabilities, Vertical aims to establish a comprehensive aerospace supply chain prepared for the transition from prototype to commercial aviation.
