Pivotal showcases BlackFly eVTOL at SOF Week with eyes on military adoption (video)
Pivotal has demonstrated its lightweight electric VTOL aircraft, BlackFly, live at SOF Week 2025, as the company positions the platform for special operations and wider defence applications.
Ken Karklin, CEO of Pivotal, spoke with Shephard during SOF Week in Tampa, Florida, where a live demonstration of the BlackFly aircraft played out mid-interview - highlighting the platform’s agility and low acoustic footprint as it performed precision manoeuvres behind him.
Originally designed for recreational use, the BlackFly is the world’s first commercially available light eVTOL and has now been flight-tested across a wide range of environments.
Karklin explained that the aircraft’s simplicity of operation, quiet flight profile and low maintenance needs have prompted Pivotal to explore defence sector roles including ISR, personnel mobility, resupply, and autonomous operations in austere environments.
More from Air Warfare
-
![NATO funds portable charging technology for Arctic deployment]()
NATO funds portable charging technology for Arctic deployment
Technology provided by Quaze Technologies will enable wirelessly charging of unmanned systems.
-
![Skydio X10D becomes first UAS delivered for Tranche 2 US Army Short Range Reconnaissance programme]()
Skydio X10D becomes first UAS delivered for Tranche 2 US Army Short Range Reconnaissance programme
The drone has equipped a US Army Transforming in Contact (TiC) to provide it with intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.
-
![AeroVironment unveils new one-way attack drone Red Dragon and Titan 4 C-UAS]()
AeroVironment unveils new one-way attack drone Red Dragon and Titan 4 C-UAS
The two new platforms form part of AeroVironment’s growing portfolio of UAS and C-UAS solutions, following its acquisition of BlueHalo in May to scale its technology and business.
-
![Spain signs for two Quantum Systems UAS reconnaissance platforms]()
Spain signs for two Quantum Systems UAS reconnaissance platforms
The Vector and Twister systems will be utilised for medium and short-range ISR missions across the Spanish Armed Forces.
-
![UK delays E-7 Wedgetail initial operational capability to 2026]()
UK delays E-7 Wedgetail initial operational capability to 2026
The E-7 Wedgetail programme had been classified as ‘red’ in a previous UK government report, denoting that it would either not meet cost, timeline or capability targets.
-
![Ukraine to receive more F-16 spares and training support from the US and Czech Republic]()
Ukraine to receive more F-16 spares and training support from the US and Czech Republic
The US and Czech Republic have pledged different support packages, with the latter agreeing to jointly open a new F-16 training centre in partnership with a ‘coalition of the willing’.
