By Dan Catchpole and Shivansh Tiwary

(Reuters) -Electric aircraft maker BETA Technologies said on Thursday it is partnering with Near Earth Autonomy to develop uncrewed aircraft for the military, with flight testing slated to begin in the first half of 2026.

Development and full demonstration of the autonomous system should take up to a year and could be deployed within 18 to 36 months, BETA CEO Kyle Clark told Reuters.

However, the defense procurement process could change that, he said.

BETA, which designs and manufactures electric aircraft and propulsion systems, said Near Earth adds expertise and experience with autonomous systems, which it has developed for the U.S. military and major aerospace manufacturers.

With regulatory hurdles delaying commercial passenger air taxis, compani

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