Swiss battery manufacturer H55 delivered its certification-grade Adagio Battery Modules to Pratt & Whitney Canada on June 9, 2026, marking a critical hardware transition for the RTX Hybrid-Electric Flight Demonstrator program.

The delivery, announced in an H55 press release, transitions the 200 kilowatt-hour (kWh) energy storage system from technology development to active aircraft integration. The demonstrator is based on a modified De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Dash 8-100 regional turboprop. The program targets a 30 percent improvement in fuel efficiency and an equivalent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions compared to current regional Commercial-Aircraft.

Integration and testing timeline

The RTX demonstrator propulsion system pairs a Pratt & Whitney Canada thermal engine with a 1-megawatt electric motor developed by Collins Aerospace. H55’s battery modules will power the electric motor during optimized phases of flight to reduce the load on the thermal engine.

Pratt & Whitney Canada initially selected H55 to provide the battery pack for the regional hybrid-electric flight demonstrator program on May 19, 2022. The integrated hybrid-electric Propulsion system and batteries subsequently completed a first full-power ground test on June 16, 2025. With the production-conforming modules now delivered to the Pratt & Whitney Canada facility in Montreal, the program moves toward final integration and flight testing. AeroTEC will support the flight test campaign at its facility in Moses Lake, Washington.

Certification-grade architecture

In March 2026, H55 confirmed that Pratt & Whitney Canada built the demonstrator’s compliance baseline on the H55 architecture. The system has accumulated more than 2,000 flight hours and undergone validation through European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) test campaigns.

H55 Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer Sébastien Demont emphasized the industry requirement for industrialized manufacturing and operational reliability as Electric-Aviation matures.

“Aircraft Manufacturers today require more than battery technology. They require certification-grade safety architecture, industrialized manufacturing, operational reliability and scalable systems integration. Delivering production-conforming modules into the RTX Hybrid-Electric Flight Demonstrator validates H55’s ability to meet those requirements at an industrial scale and marks an important step in bringing our certification-grade energy storage technologies to a broader range of commercial aerospace applications.”

AirPro News analysis

The delivery of flight-ready, certification-grade hardware remains a significant bottleneck in aerospace electrification. By supplying modules that already align with EASA validation frameworks, H55 reduces the certification risk for the broader RTX demonstrator program. We view the integration of a 1-megawatt electric motor with a 200 kWh battery system on a Dash 8-100 airframe as a highly pragmatic testbed. It allows the industry to evaluate thermal management, battery degradation, and hybrid power-sharing in a representative regional airline profile before committing to clean-sheet aircraft designs.

Sources: H55

The German Aerospace Center (DLR) is showcasing its latest advancements in climate-compatible aviation, space security, and human space exploration at the International Aerospace Exhibition (ILA) Berlin, running from June 10 to 14, 2026.

In collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the German Aerospace Industries Association (BDLI), DLR is presenting physical research aircraft, engineering simulators, and space exploration technologies at the Berlin ExpoCenter Airport. The exhibition highlights Germany and Europe’s strategic push toward aerospace autonomy and sustainable aviation technologies, according to a press release issued by DLR.

Aviation research and the D328 UpLift testbed

A central focus of DLR’s aviation exhibition is the integration of digital simulation with physical flight testing. The organization is displaying several research aircraft on the ILA Plaza, including the In-flight Systems & Technology Airborne Research (ISTAR) Dassault Falcon 2000LX and the D328 UpLift flying testbed, a modified Dornier 328-100.

Inside the exhibition halls, DLR is operating the ESIM2 engineering simulator. Anke Kaysser-Pyzalla, Chair of the DLR Executive Board, stated that the organization is presenting both the reality and the simulation of the D328 UpLift project for the first time by pairing the physical aircraft on the plaza with a true-to-life engineering simulator of a Dornier 328 cockpit at the DLR stand.

This dual approach supports broader industry efforts to streamline aircraft development. On June 10, 2026, Aviation Week reported that DLR is utilizing the UpLift flying testbed to explore “certification by analysis” methodologies. These methodologies aim to mature aviation technologies sooner by relying on advanced digital modeling validated by targeted physical flight tests.

Space exploration and the new control center

In the space sector, DLR is co-hosting the Space Pavilion alongside ESA and BDLI under the slogan “Space4Future.” The pavilion focuses on Earth observation, planetary defense, and in-space operations. Anne-Sophie Bradelle, Head of the ESA Communication Department, noted that the joint exhibition demonstrates Europe’s achievements in space and strengthens the region’s autonomy in the current geopolitical environment.

DLR is also detailing its plans for the new Human Exploration Control Center (HECC). In February 2026, DLR received 58 million euros in funding from the Free State of Bavaria for the facility’s construction. The organization has allocated an additional 20 million euros from its institutional core funding for the project.

Construction of the HECC is scheduled to begin in 2028 in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany, with operations slated to start in 2030. Visitors to the DLR stand can view insights into the emerging control center alongside other space technologies, including the Martian moon rover Idefix and the MAPHEUS sounding rocket programme.

AirPro News analysis

We view DLR’s emphasis on “certification by analysis” and physical testbeds like the D328 UpLift as a critical step for the European aerospace sector. By bridging the gap between digital simulation and physical flight testing, research institutions can help original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) reduce the time and cost associated with bringing sustainable aviation technologies to market. The substantial regional and institutional investment in the HECC also signals a long-term commitment to maintaining European autonomy in human spaceflight operations.

Sources: German Aerospace Center (DLR)

GE Aerospace (GE) and its subsidiary Avio Aero have completed critical testing milestones for hydrogen combustion and hybrid electric propulsion systems at facilities in Germany. Announced on June 12, 2026, at the ILA Berlin airshow, the tests advance technologies intended for the CFM International RISE program.

The milestones, achieved in collaboration with the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the European Union’s Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking, focus on the HYDEA and AMBER projects. According to a press release issued by GE Aerospace, these developments support the broader goal of the Revolutionary Innovation for Sustainable Engines (RISE) program, which targets a fuel burn improvement of more than 20 percent compared to current commercial engines. The engineering work supporting these milestones spans centers in Germany, Italy, Poland, and Türkiye.

Hydrogen combustion and altitude restart validation

The HYDEA project successfully executed its first engine restart test using hydrogen under simulated altitude conditions. Conducted at the DLR Institute of Space Propulsion in Lampoldshausen, Germany, the test utilized a custom hydrogen sector combustor test rig.

Engineers employed a synthetic air generator to replicate dry air at specific flight conditions, allowing the team to establish a relight operability envelope for hydrogen fuel. The specialized ignition system used in the test was designed and manufactured by Unison, another GE Aerospace company. Luca Bedon, Head of Research and Technology at Avio Aero, stated that the European teams are turning ideas into tested capabilities alongside their research partners.

Hybrid electric fuel cell testing

Parallel to the hydrogen tests, the AMBER project concluded a testing campaign on a proprietary fuel cell system at the DLR BALIS facility. This megawatt-class hybrid electric propulsion initiative focused on the dynamic behavior of fuel cells during flight operations.

The testing validated the system’s ability to transition from idle to maximum power during short transient times. It also demonstrated the fuel cell’s resilience across various power modes designed to simulate both short-range and long-range flight profiles.

“The future of flight is more electric. We’re proud to partner with DLR and others around the world to advance the building blocks to help make hybrid electric aviation a reality,” said Roman Seele, Future of Flight Leader for GE Aerospace in Germany.

Broader implications for the CFM RISE program

The technologies validated through HYDEA and AMBER will feed into the CFM International RISE program. CFM International is a 50-50 joint company between GE Aerospace and Safran Aircraft Engines. Unveiled in 2021, the RISE program has accumulated more than 350 tests and over 3,000 cycles of endurance testing to date.

GE Aerospace and Avio Aero are also participating in additional Clean Aviation initiatives, including the TAKE OFF and OFELIA projects. These parallel efforts focus on Open Fan ground and flight test demonstrators led by Safran Aircraft Engines. María Calvo, Head of Project Management at the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking, noted that Avio Aero’s ongoing commitment reflects the strength of European industrial collaboration in delivering technologies for the next generation of aircraft.

AirPro News analysis

We view the concurrent progress in both hydrogen combustion and megawatt-class hybrid electric systems as a strong indicator of GE Aerospace’s diversified approach to the CFM RISE program. By utilizing European research infrastructure like the DLR facilities, the manufacturer is effectively distributing the high research and development costs associated with next-generation propulsion. The successful altitude relight test for hydrogen is particularly notable, as ignition and flame stability at altitude remain primary technical hurdles for direct hydrogen combustion in commercial aircraft.

Sources: GE Aerospace