Volatus Aerospace Partners with Singular Aircraft to Introduce Heavy-Lift Autonomous Aircraft for Canadian Wildfire Response
Press Release + Noah Note
Strategic partnership advances the introduction of a new class of autonomous aircraft, Canadian manufacturing and sovereign industrial capability
VAUGHAN, Ontario, Aug. 04, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Volatus Aerospace Inc. (TSX: FLT) (OTCQX: TAKOF) (Frankfurt: ABB.F) (“Volatus” or the “Company”), a Canadian-headquartered global aerospace and defence company, today announced the next phase of its national wildfire response initiative through a Strategic Partnership with Singular Aircraft S.L. (“Singular”), developer of the FlyOx 1 multi-mission heavy-lift autonomous aircraft platform.
The agreement establishes Volatus as Singular’s Canadian Strategic Partner and creates the 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.
“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,” said Glen Lynch, Chief Executive Officer, Volatus Aerospace.
“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.”
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. With a maximum takeoff weight of approximately 4,000 kilograms and the ability to carry 1,560 litres of water or fire retardant-or other mission payloads-the FlyOx 1 represents a new class of autonomous aircraft distinct from the small unmanned systems commonly associated with commercial drone operations.
The platform combines heavy payload capacity, long endurance, amphibious capability, fully automatic takeoff and landing, and operation from unprepared airstrips, enabling rapid forward deployment closer to emerging incidents. According to Singular, the aircraft has completed documented flight operations under the oversight of five national civil and military aviation authorities across four continents, including demonstrated aerial water-discharge.
“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,” said Luis Carrillo, Owner, Singular Aircraft. “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 already 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.
This initiative represents an important step in 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.
About Volatus Aerospace Inc.
Volatus Aerospace is a Canadian-controlled global aerospace and defence company delivering integrated uncrewed systems, aerial intelligence and mission-critical operational services. The Company provides unmanned aerial systems, aerial intelligence services, autonomy software and advanced training solutions supporting civil infrastructure, public safety and defence markets.
Forward-Looking Information
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Forward-looking information is based on currently available competitive, financial, and economic data and operating plans, strategies, or beliefs as of the date of this news release, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors may be based on information currently available to the Company, including information obtained from third-party industry analysts and other third-party sources, and are based on management’s current expectations or beliefs. Any and all forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.
Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information is not based on historical facts but instead reflects expectations, estimates or projections concerning future results or events based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made. Forward-looking information and forward-looking statements reflect the Company’s current beliefs and is based on information currently available to it and on assumptions it believes to be not unreasonable in light of all of the circumstances. In some instances, material factors or assumptions are discussed in this news release in connection with statements containing forward-looking information. Such material factors and assumptions include but are not limited to: the negotiation and execution of definitive agreements with Singular; the timing and outcome of Transport Canada certification; Singular’s production capacity and delivery performance; the establishment of Canadian assembly and integration capability; the timing, scope and funding of government wildfire and emergency management procurement, the Company’s access to capital; and meeting the continued listing requirements of the TSX. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. The forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date of this news release and, other than as required by law, the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.
No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this news release. The Toronto Stock Exchange accepts no responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
Noah Note: So I don't really know this Spanish company, admittedly. I tried to do some basic research on it, founded 2011. The FlyOx first flew in May 2015 in Iceland, have had a few demonstration flights after that. They had some movement with a Pre-Commercial Procurement contract from Spain's CDTI back in 2024 to enhance the firefighting capabilities on the FlyOx.
They have a letter of intent with CIMNE from February to collaborate on aeronautical R&D, semifinalist status in the XPRIZE Foundation Wildfire challenge. They have some LOI and such around, but the truth is this is an experimental, in-developmemt platform that has a number of years and some challenges under it's belt.
Of course operating an autonomous aircraft in one of the most congested, low-level, smoke-degraded airspaces possible is already a fitting challenge as is. All for a platform that carries less than a 802F. It really relies on the risk-advantage, endurance, and cost parity here.
That isnt new for Volatus though. The company seems to really like jumping on experimental amd new platforms, taking them in, and trying to make them their own. This is a bread and butter kinda deal for them. No hate on that, someone will always try to do stuff like that. For them to do this isn't shocking, but I do make note this is far from a readily-commercial product.
Remote logistics feels more liekly to find a love here, but the competition for autonomous, remote logistics is fierce and getting quickly populated with conversions. There is also the fact that Transport Canada isn't exactly the best when it comes to UAS, least of all larger platforms like this. You're fighting them more than anything, which is something all UAS developers face in this case.
I wish them best, this is a basic, no-commitment partnership. It costs them basically nothing and, worst case, platform goes nowhere and you hopefully didn't waste to much time or effort on it.
Do you reckon this may be part of Fuhr's announcement on Friday?
Be interesting if it works….i imagine flying it at night when the rest of the fleet is down could work….and useful to attack new small fires maybe before they grow. Getting attack crews into bush country or on a mountain slope not so easy….so yes some possibilities.