Ascendance, a Toulouse-based aviation company founded in 2018, signed two memorandums of understanding in Malaysia during a ceremony at the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry. The agreements were signed with Pen Aviation and Pahang Aerospace City Development Berhad.

The partnership with Pen Aviation covers the integration of Ascendance’s Sterna hybrid-electric propulsion system into locally developed drones, the distribution of its Atea VTOL aircraft in Southeast Asia, and studies on the aircraft’s use for heliport-to-heliport operations.

Through its agreement with PACDB, Ascendance will explore opportunities to establish a hybrid propulsion competence centre, open an assembly facility, conduct flight demonstrations, and work with regulators and universities including University Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah. PAC, located within a Special Economic Zone, is positioned next to the proposed Al-Sultan Abdullah Kuantan International Airport.

“These structuring agreements strengthen our ability to quickly deploy our solutions in strategic markets. They set the stage for future industrial partnerships and the establishment of high-value collaborations to the benefit of our partners and the global aerospace sector,” says Jean-Christophe Lambert, CEO and co-founder of Ascendance.