Axios: United Airlines Ventures backs Astro Mechanica

The venture capital arm of United Airlines is investing in Astro Mechanica, a startup specializing in high-speed flight.

Why it matters: Military applications abound.

• Astro's products, including propulsion, could find a defense-tech foothold as the company explores the broader aerospace market.

• Chief executive Ian Brooke told Tectonic months ago that tests show its engine could fly a drone similar in size to Anduril Industries' Fury across the Pacific at Mach 2-3 speeds.

Driving the news: Mukul Hariharan, a managing partner at United Airlines Ventures (UAV), tells Axios that Astro caught his attention because of its technology and business plan, which involves maturing with the Defense Department and then securing commercial customers.

• "They're attacking the engine problem from a novel but somewhat obvious way, given electrification trends," says Hariharan, a former commercial airline pilot.
• "They look at a problem from a different angle, and they found a different way to attack it, and they have the business flexibility to actually approach it, versus a Pratt & Whitney or Rolls-Royce or whoever else."

How it works: Astro's Duality is designed to separate the propulsion units from the turboshaft engine using electric motors. This gives it turbofan, turbojet and ramjet flexibility.

Flashback: The company raised $27 million earlier this year. Investors included Andreessen Horowitz, Lowercarbon Capital and Giant Step.

Friction point: Neither UAV nor Astro would disclose the size of the investment.

• UAV has also backed Boom Supersonic and Archer Aviation.

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