Lithuania’s Airvolve to Deliver 10 VTOL Aircraft to Finland, Sweden

Lithuanian aeronautics firm Airvolve has signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with Finnish defence solutions provider Maverick Defence Oy to supply 10 Airlift-U500 vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft to Finland and Sweden starting in mid-2026.

Under the agreement, Maverick Defence Oy will act as Airvolve’s authorized distributor and agent in the Nordic markets. The company will handle sales, demonstrations, training, and operational integration of the U500 aircraft.

The Airlift-U500 is a hybrid-electric, autonomous VTOL aircraft developed for rapid tactical missions such as resupply, casualty evacuation, and mobility operations in difficult or contested environments. According to Airvolve, the U500 features a modular payload system, low acoustic signature, and highly automated flight controls.

“We see tremendous demand for autonomous aerial cargo systems in the Nordic region, and the U500 leads the field in both performance and affordability,” said Sami Järvenpää, CEO of Maverick Defence Oy.

Airvolve plans to reach a production target of 100 units by the end of 2026, along with a sustainment package that includes spare parts and modular add-ons.

Airvolve CEO Donatas Gendvilas noted the importance of partnering with a local distributor. “We’ve actively sought trusted partners in the Nordics to accelerate deployment without overextending our core team across Europe,” he said. “Scaling to 10 aircraft per month is ambitious, but within reach.”

The Airlift-U500 was unveiled in May 2025 as part of Airvolve’s entry into the unmanned tactical cargo market.