Ascendance, a leader in decarbonized aviation founded in 2018, has announced the signing of two major partnerships in Malaysia, one of the most dynamic markets in the Asia-Pacific region for air mobility.
During an official ceremony held at the headquarters of Malaysia’s Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), the French company entered into two Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) with Pen Aviation and Pahang Aerospace City Development Berhad (PAC). These agreements strengthen Ascendance’s presence in a region where air traffic is expected to grow by over 5% annually through 2040, driven by ambitious innovation and energy transition goals.
The signing ceremony was attended by His Excellency Axel Cruau, Ambassador of France to Malaysia, and Malaysia’s Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
Industrial Alliance with Pen Aviation
Ascendance is partnering with Pen Aviation, a key player in Malaysian aerospace, to explore the integration of its STERNA hybrid-electric propulsion system into locally developed UAVs (drones).
The agreement includes:
- Distribution of the ATEA VTOL aircraft in Southeast Asia
- Analysis of use cases for ATEA in heliport-to-heliport connections, as alternatives or complements to helicopters
This collaboration lays the groundwork for Ascendance’s entry into the Malaysian market and paves the way for sustainable air mobility tailored to regional needs.
Strategic Presence at Pahang Aerospace City
Ascendance is also reinforcing its strategic presence in Malaysia through its partnership with Pahang Aerospace City Development Berhad (PACDB), the developer of the Pahang Aerospace City (PAC) — a sovereign-backed aerospace innovation hub anchored within a Special Economic Zone (SEZ). The PAC development is strategically located adjacent to the site of the proposed Al-Sultan Abdullah Kuantan International Airport (WMAA), envisioned as Malaysia’s next international gateway for aviation and aerospace industries.
Through this partnership, Ascendance and PACDB will assess opportunities including:
- Establishing a dedicated hybrid propulsion competence center
- Setting up a co-production or assembly facility
- Organizing on-site flight demonstrations
- Collaboration with MRO ecosystem regulatory authorities (CAAM, ICAO), and local academic institutions including Malaysian leading engineering and technical public university in Pahang, University Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA), to ensure alignment with both national priorities and global standards.
PAC provides Ascendance with a thriving ecosystem designed to host new industrial projects and speed the development of a sustainable Malaysian aviation sector.
A Major Milestone for Ascendance
Beyond the technological scope, these partnerships open tangible economic opportunities for Ascendance: access to a rapidly growing market, potential for local manufacturing, and integration into an aerospace ecosystem supported by Malaysian authorities. With these agreements, the Toulouse-based company moves closer to its industrial vision: opening new markets, establishing a local presence, and creating lasting value.
They also strengthen Ascendance’s presence in Southeast Asia, where a strong strategic partnership unites Ascendance with PhilJets. This collaboration involves a total of 15 Letters of Intent for the ATEA aircraft, along with joint efforts to redefine the future of regional mobility in the Philippines.
“These structuring agreements strengthen our ability to quickly deploy our solutions in strategic markets. They set the stage for future industrial partnerships and the establishment of high-value collaborations, to the benefit of our partners and the global aerospace sector,” said Jean-Christophe Lambert, CEO and co-founder of Ascendance.