RTX has completed a major phase of hybrid-electric aviation testing through its Collins Aerospace business.
The testing was carried out under the European Union-backed Clean Aviation SWITCH project at The Grid facility in Rockford, Illinois. Engineers successfully tested hybrid-electric powertrain systems using simulated aircraft and engine conditions.
The tested systems will now be sent to Airbus for aircraft-level integration and further evaluation. The next phase will focus on aircraft design, battery integration and energy management. The milestone supports efforts to develop more fuel-efficient and lower-emission commercial aircraft.
Hybrid-electric Systems Explained
The SWITCH project aims to improve the efficiency of future short- and medium-range aircraft by combining conventional jet engines with electric power systems.
Hybrid-electric technology uses electric motors to assist aircraft engines, helping reduce fuel consumption while maintaining performance. Collins developed megawatt-class motor generators and controllers that will work alongside a Pratt & Whitney GTF engine during the programme.
Testing involved several industry partners working together on different parts of the system. Pratt & Whitney supported powertrain integration and supplied the hybrid-electric engine controller, while Airbus provided the interface with the aircraft’s energy-management system. GKN Aerospace delivered the high-voltage wiring needed to connect the electrical components safely.
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Next Project Begins
Following the SWITCH milestone, The Grid will support the Airbus-led LEIA project, another Clean Aviation programme focused on hybrid-electric aircraft.
Collins will lead work on energy sources while supplying electric motor generators, electronic controllers, power distribution equipment, and cabin pressure and ventilation systems. Its facility in Nördlingen, Germany, will also provide solid-state power controllers and power distribution panels designed to replace heavier mechanical circuit breakers and relays.
LEIA testing will take place across several Collins facilities in the US and Europe. These sites include locations in France, Germany, Ireland, Italy and the UK. The distributed testing approach allows different technologies to be evaluated before they are combined into a complete aircraft system.
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Industry Collaboration Expands
Kristin Smith, Vice President of Electric Power Systems at Collins Aerospace, said the SWITCH programme marked the largest integrated systems test completed at The Grid since the facility opened in 2023.
She said the project demonstrates how industry collaboration and hybrid-electric technology can reduce fuel consumption for future aircraft.
Clean Aviation Project Officer Pierre Durel said the SWITCH and LEIA programmes are key steps towards bringing hybrid-electric short- and medium-range aircraft into service.
The projects also build on earlier collaborations, including HECATE and AWATAR, while Collins has joined newer programmes such as OSYRYS and PHARES. As demonstration testing continues through 2027, the results are expected to shape the next generation of cleaner and more efficient commercial aviation.
