The E-Plane Co. to supply air ambulances to ICATT in $1 bn deal

Chennai-based electric aircraft startup The ePlane Company announced a tie-up with the International Critical-Care Air Transfer Team (ICATT) to supply 788 electric air ambulances in a deal valued at over $1 billion.

The partnership is expected to improve emergency medical response and ensure faster critical care access across India.

Under the non-binding agreement, The ePlane Company will provide its electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft to ICATT.

The aircraft will be used for rapid medical intervention, including organ transfers and emergency transport, thus reducing fatalities by covering the gap between remote accident sites, ICATT said.

“This is going to be a very good solution in terms of organ air-lifts. Ninety five per cent of the registered patient recipients die before they get an organ. This is purely because of the lack of logistics, not due to lack of donors. This collaboration is going to solve this problem and redefine access to healthcare in India,” said Dr Shalini Nalwad, founder of ICATT.

The ePlane Company plans to start commercial operations by the latter half of 2026. It will start with an initial production of 100 units per year.

The aircraft will initially have a range of about 110 km (68.4 miles). This will be later upgraded to exceed 200 km.

“This collaboration is a monumental step in expanding aerial medical services. Faster airlifts will bridge the gap between accident sites and medical facilities—reducing fatalities and improving accessibility,” The ePlane Company’s founder, Satya Chakravarthy, said.

Flight tests are scheduled for mid-2025 following regulatory approvals, including the Design Organisation Approval from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation—the first granted to a private Indian company for an electric aircraft.