Volatus Aerospace Inc., a Canadian-headquartered global aerospace and defence company, has entered a strategic partnership with Singular Aircraft S.L. to support the introduction of the FlyOx 1 multi-mission heavy-lift autonomous aircraft platform into Canada.
The agreement establishes Volatus as Singular’s Canadian Strategic Partner and creates a framework for introducing the FlyOx 1 into Canada while evaluating Canadian manufacturing, systems integration, operational deployment and long-term in-country support. Together, the companies intend to advance a sovereign Canadian capability supporting wildfire response, emergency management, public safety and other government applications.
Originally conceived for autonomous aerial firefighting, the FlyOx 1 has evolved into a multi-mission heavy-lift autonomous aircraft platform capable of supporting wildfire response, emergency management, logistics, public safety and other government operations.
The aircraft has a maximum takeoff weight of approximately 4,000 kilograms and can carry 1,560 litres of water or fire retardant, or other mission payloads. It combines heavy payload capacity, long endurance, amphibious capability, fully automatic takeoff and landing, and the ability to operate from unprepared airstrips, enabling rapid forward deployment closer to emerging incidents.
Glen Lynch, Chief Executive Officer, Volatus Aerospace, commented, “Canada already operates one of the world’s most respected aerial firefighting fleets. Our objective isn’t to replace it, it’s to strengthen it with a new class of autonomous aircraft capability that can detect earlier, respond faster, operate closer to emerging incidents, and provide governments with new operational options when time matters most.”
“For Volatus, this is about more than introducing a new aircraft. It’s about establishing sovereign Canadian capability in advanced autonomous aerospace, bringing together Canadian manufacturing, Canadian operational expertise and next-generation technology to strengthen national resilience while creating a platform that can continue to evolve as government requirements change.”
According to Singular, the FlyOx 1 has completed documented flight operations under the oversight of five national civil and military aviation authorities across four continents, including demonstrated aerial water discharge.
Luis Carrillo, Owner, Singular Aircraft, added, “We built the FlyOx 1 as an aircraft, not as a drone-a heavy-lift autonomous aircraft platform capable of carrying meaningful payloads over long distances while operating from land or water. That combination creates opportunities that simply haven’t existed before in autonomous aviation. Volatus brings the Canadian industrial base, operational expertise and government relationships needed to make that possible, while Singular contributes a proven aircraft platform and established production capability. Together, we believe we can establish an entirely new category of sovereign autonomous aviation capability for Canada.”
Volatus has begun engaging governments, regulators and wildfire management organizations across Canada to evaluate operational requirements, certification pathways and future demonstration opportunities.
Any Canadian deployment of the FlyOx 1 remains subject to Transport Canada approvals and the successful completion of technical, operational and regulatory evaluations.
The initiative forms part of Volatus’ broader strategy to advance sovereign Canadian autonomous aerospace capability through the integration of advanced aircraft platforms, operational services, Canadian manufacturing and mission management technologies supporting public safety, emergency management and other government missions.
