Barq Group and US-based Elroy Air have signed an initial agreement to form a joint venture that will invest $200m in a new manufacturing facility in Abu Dhabi to produce the Chaparral autonomous cargo aircraft. The partnership combines Barq Group, a leading provider of smart mobility and logistics solutions across the MENA region, and Elroy Air, a pioneer in autonomous aerial systems for middle-mile logistics. Subject to regulatory approvals, the venture will supply Chaparral systems to commercial and humanitarian customers across the Middle East and North Africa. The aircraft completed the world’s first flight of a turbogenerator hybrid-electric aircraft in November 2023. Ahmed AlMazrui, Chief Executive Officer of Barq Group, described the agreement as “a strategic commitment to Abu Dhabi’s role in shaping the future of mobility.

Source: Punch January 14, 2026 07:30 UTC