Collins Aerospace Completes HECATE Project Achieving TRL5 for Hybrid-Electric Aircraft

This article is based on an official press release from Collins Aerospace.

On March 17, 2026, Collins Aerospace, an RTX business, announced the successful completion of the Hybrid-ElectriC regional Aircraft distribution TEchnologies (HECATE) project. According to the company’s press release, this initiative has officially achieved Technology Readiness Level 5 (TRL5), a critical milestone that proves the viability of its electrical architecture design for future hybrid-electric Commercial-Aircraft under real-world simulated conditions.

The HECATE project is a cornerstone of the European Union’s Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking (CAJU), receiving additional support from UK Research and Innovation. Industry data provided in supplementary research reports notes that CAJU operates with a €4.1 billion budget aimed at reducing the greenhouse gas Emissions of regional aircraft by up to 50 percent compared to 2020 standards. The successful conclusion of HECATE’s Phase 1 testing marks a significant step toward the program’s ultimate goal of introducing zero-emission commercial aircraft into service by 2035.

At AirPro News, we recognize that the transition to hybrid-electric Propulsion requires massive leaps in onboard energy management. The HECATE consortium, led by Collins Aerospace and featuring technical coordination by Safran Electrical & Power, has demonstrated that the European aerospace supply chain can collaboratively meet these high-voltage demands.

The HECATE Project and High-Voltage Aviation

Overcoming Megawatt-Class Challenges

As the Manufacturers industry pivots toward hybrid-electric propulsion, the electrical demands placed on aircraft systems increase exponentially. Traditional electrical networks are ill-equipped to handle megawatt-class power levels without adding prohibitive weight or introducing high-voltage hazards such as arcing and electromagnetic interference. According to the Collins Aerospace press release, the HECATE project directly addressed these hurdles by developing a lightweight, compact, and holistically optimized electrical power generation and distribution system.

During the testing phase, the consortium successfully demonstrated an 800-volt architecture capable of handling more than 500 kilowatts (kW) of power. To achieve this safely and efficiently, the Phase 1 CAJU project utilized digital twin technology. The official release notes that simulating real-world operations digitally significantly reduced physical testing time while ensuring the system adhered to strict electromagnetic compatibility standards.

“Through successful collaboration with HECATE consortium partners, we have advanced critical technologies for hybrid-electric propulsion and more electric aircraft to meet future high power, high-voltage aircraft demands. With efficient, lightweight, and compact electrical power distribution technologies, Collins is well-positioned for continued maturation and integration testing under Clean Aviation Phase 2 programs, moving closer to commercial viability.”

— Kristin Smith, Vice President of Electric Power Systems at Collins Aerospace

Ground Testing at the “Copper Bird” Facility

Simulating Flight in Niort, France

The physical validation of the HECATE system took place at Safran Electrical & Power’s specialized “Copper Bird” facility in Niort, France. According to supplementary project data, the Copper Bird is a unique ground-test platform designed to integrate and test an aircraft’s entire advanced electrical system in a controlled environment before flight testing begins.

The integration process was a massive collaborative effort. The Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking reports that the project was jointly developed by 38 participating entities across 11 European countries, including major players like Airbus Defence and Space and Leonardo, alongside various universities. Bringing hardware from dozens of partners into a single, functioning 500 kW network on the Copper Bird proved the efficacy of the consortium’s design.

“We are very proud to have integrated the full suite of partner systems from the HECATE consortium into our state-of-the-art electrical systems test bench in Niort. This integration highlights the strength of our collaboration and our technical leadership in hybrid-electric and electric propulsion.”

— Agnès Pronost-Gilles, Executive VP & General Manager for Power Division, Safran Electrical & Power

Transitioning to Clean Aviation Phase 2

OSYRYS and LEIA Initiatives

The completion of HECATE serves as the launchpad for Phase 2 of the Clean Aviation initiative. According to industry research reports, CAJU announced €945 million in funding for 12 new Call 3 projects in late 2025, with work officially kicking off in early 2026. These projects aim to take the technologies proven in HECATE from the laboratory to the sky, with initial flight tests slated for the 2028–2029 timeframe.

The Collins Aerospace release highlights two key Phase 2 projects: OSYRYS and LEIA. OSYRYS, led by Safran Electrical & Power, will focus on developing and testing electrical systems specifically for hybrid-electric regional aircraft. Meanwhile, LEIA, coordinated by Airbus, aims to scale these hybrid-electric architectures for larger, short-to-medium range commercial aircraft.

“Hybrid-electric aircrafts need reliable and powerful electrical architectures to safely fly our skies — and HECATE has brought us a decisive step closer towards this goal with tangible results and win-win collaboration with EASA. At Clean Aviation, we will be excited to see how Phase 2 projects build on HECATE achievements and will further mature the technology for an entry into service by 2035.”

— María Calvo, Head of Unit Project Management at Clean Aviation

AirPro News analysis

The successful TRL5 certification of the HECATE project underscores a critical, often-overlooked element of next-generation aviation: regulatory synergy. By collaborating continuously with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and standards groups like EUROCAE throughout the development process, the HECATE consortium has ensured that these high-voltage systems are not just functional in a lab, but fundamentally certifiable for commercial flight.

Furthermore, while Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) remains the industry’s primary short-term tool for decarbonization, the physical limits of SAF production necessitate mechanical innovations. The 800-volt, 500 kW architecture proven by Collins Aerospace and Safran represents the foundational infrastructure required to make hybrid-electric regional flights a reality by the 2035 target. Without these high-voltage distribution networks, the transition to zero-emission aviation would stall at the propulsion level.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• What is the HECATE project?
  HECATE (Hybrid-ElectriC regional Aircraft distribution TEchnologies) is a European research initiative aimed at developing high-voltage electrical power generation and distribution systems for future hybrid-electric aircraft.
• What does TRL5 mean?
  Technology Readiness Level 5 (TRL5) indicates that a technology has been rigorously tested and validated in a relevant, simulated environment, in this case, Safran’s “Copper Bird” ground-test platform.
• When will these hybrid-electric aircraft fly?
  Phase 2 projects (like OSYRYS and LEIA) aim to begin flight tests between 2028 and 2029, with the ultimate goal of commercial entry into service by 2035.

Sources: Collins Aerospace Press Release, HECATE Project Official Site