Syensqo has announced a new long-term supplier partnership with Vertical Aerospace covering high-performance composite and adhesive materials for the VX4 electric aircraft. The materials, which are already in use in Vertical’s prototype program, have now been formally selected for the aircraft platform that is targeting certification in 2028 ahead of commercial entry into service. The agreement follows several years of technical cooperation between Syensqo and Vertical on the development and validation of materials for electric vertical flight applications.
According to the partners, Syensqo’s advanced composite and adhesive solutions will be integrated across the VX4’s entire structure. The materials are intended to deliver a combination of lightweight construction, structural efficiency and durability, parameters regarded as essential for high-frequency electric vertical take-off and landing operations. Ensuring that the airframe can accommodate repeated take-offs and landings while maintaining safety and performance at scale is a core requirement for the VX4 program. Within the overall industrialization plan, the airframe itself will be manufactured by Aciturri, a global aerostructures supplier that will support Vertical’s transition from prototype development to full commercial production.
Scope of the materials agreement and application to VX4
Under the newly announced long-term supply arrangement, Syensqo will provide composite and adhesive materials that are designed for aerospace structures and already deployed in other aircraft programs. In the case of the VX4, these materials are set to be used throughout the airframe to meet weight targets and structural performance requirements associated with electric aviation. High specific stiffness and strength, combined with fatigue resistance, are key attributes for airframes expected to operate in high-cycle urban and regional missions.
The partners highlight that securing access to appropriate advanced composites is regarded as a critical factor for the VX4’s development path. By using lightweight materials across the primary structure, Vertical aims to support the aircraft’s payload and range objectives within the constraints of electric propulsion. At the same time, the composite and adhesive systems are expected to contribute to maintaining the structural integrity needed for safety and certification, particularly in the context of repeated vertical take-off and landing cycles.
Aciturri’s role as airframe manufacturer positions the company within the industrialization phase, bridging the transition from prototype builds to series production. Working with Syensqo and Vertical, Aciturri will integrate the specified composite material systems into production processes for the VX4, supporting the ramp-up to full commercial manufacturing.
Vertical’s full-scale VX4 prototype during piloted flight testing
Aerospace background of Syensqo and Vertical’s program roadmap
Syensqo brings to the collaboration its experience as a supplier of advanced materials to a range of civil and defense aircraft manufacturers. This background in aerospace applications is positioned as a basis for supporting both the civil and potential defense use cases of Vertical’s aircraft platform. The company’s portfolio includes composite and adhesive technologies that are intended to address lightweighting, structural performance and durability targets in aerostructures.
Commenting on the partnership, Rodrigo Elizondo, president Syensqo Composite Materials, said: "We are honored to deepen our collaboration with Vertical. Our advanced composite and adhesive technologies are designed to push the boundaries of lightweighting and performance, supporting the VX4’s journey toward safer, cleaner and more efficient air mobility. As Vertical moves into certification and industrialization, we look forward to bringing our scientific expertise and strong customer partnership to support the VX4’s successful entry into full-scale production."
Vertical Aerospace is positioning the VX4 as an electric aircraft platform aimed at both urban and regional operations. The company is working with a network of industrial partners to bring the design to market and to progress through the regulatory certification process. Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical Aerospace, stated: "We are bringing the VX4 to market alongside leading global partners, and deepening our successful partnership with Syensqo as our advanced-materials supplier is a vital step in that journey. Their decades of expertise in lightweight, high-performance composites, combined with our shared commitment to safety and certification, will help us deliver a resilient, agile aircraft as we progress toward commercial operations."
Vertical plans to unveil its new aircraft design on 10 December in London. The presentation is expected to showcase the VX4’s design characteristics, including its passenger and luggage capacity, as well as the overall architecture that the company describes as being ready for global certification pathways. Within this framework, the material selection and supply agreement with Syensqo forms part of the broader industrialization strategy, which encompasses design finalization, certification preparation and scaling of manufacturing capabilities.
