This article summarizes reporting by CGTN.

The Aero Engine Corporation of China (AECC) Aeroengine Control System Institute and Shanghai TCab Technology Co., Ltd. (TCab Tech) delivered the AEE25 aviation electric engine on June 5, 2026, in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province. The delivery marks the rollout of China’s first domestically developed electric engine designed specifically for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

According to reporting by CGTN, the 200-kilowatt class engine has entered the airworthiness Certification process alongside TCab Tech’s E20 eVTOL aircraft. The development aligns with China’s broader economic initiatives to expand its low-altitude aviation sector, supported by a newly established electric propulsion business unit within the AECC institute.

Technical specifications and integration

The AEE25 engine features a highly integrated “six-in-one” design. This configuration consolidates the main motor, main motor controller, cooling system motor, cooling system motor controller, variable-pitch actuator, and variable-pitch controller into a single unit. To maintain power output and ensure safety during a single-point failure, the system incorporates redundant dual motors and dual-channel controllers.

CGTN reported that the engine achieves a torque density between 40 and 44 newton-meters per kilogram (Nm/kg), which represents a domestic record for its power class. AECC institute project head Zhang Yu noted that higher torque density enables a lighter engine for equivalent power output, permitting designers to allocate additional weight to payloads, passengers, or other aircraft systems.

Plug-and-play installation

The integrated nature of the AEE25 is intended to simplify the Manufacturing process for eVTOL developers. AECC institute Deputy Director Liu Guoping stated that once the engine is fitted with a propeller and connected to the aircraft’s power and data bus, it is ready for operation.

Application in the E20 eVTOL program

The AEE25 is slated to power the E20 eVTOL aircraft, developed by TCab Tech. The E20, which was previously exhibited at the 8th China International Import Expo in Shanghai in November 2025, is designed to carry four to six passengers and has a maximum takeoff weight of two to three tonnes.

Both the aircraft and its new domestic engine are currently undergoing airworthiness certification. The concurrent certification of the airframe and the propulsion system represents a critical phase in bringing the E20 to the commercial market.

AirPro News analysis

The Delivery of the AEE25 indicates a strategic shift in China‘s aerospace supply chain, moving away from reliance on imported electric propulsion systems for domestic eVTOL projects. By establishing a dedicated electric propulsion unit within a state-owned aerospace giant like AECC, China is signaling intent to vertically integrate its advanced air mobility (AAM) sector. The stated torque density of 40 to 44 Nm/kg places the AEE25 in a competitive position globally, though the true test will be the system’s performance and reliability during the rigorous airworthiness certification process.

Sources: CGTN

On June 9, 2026, Marshall Aerospace delivered a six degrees of freedom (6-DOF) flight dynamics and control model to New Horizon Aircraft Ltd. (Horizon Aircraft), marking a critical software milestone for the Cavorite X7 hybrid-electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) program.

In a press release issued by Marshall Group, the company confirmed that the delivery of the steady level flight model will allow Horizon Aircraft to predict and optimize the aircraft’s response to control inputs. This Software variant is the first of several planned models designed to support the development of a safety-critical control system as the Cavorite X7 advances toward Certification.

Advancing the Cavorite X7 control systems

The 6-DOF model simulates the aircraft’s behavior across all rotational and translational axes. Marshall Aerospace’s Aero Engineering Services division developed the software following a competitive tender issued by Horizon Aircraft in 2025.

“The delivery of the first flight model for the Cavorite X7 marks a strong start to our Partnerships with Marshall Aerospace,” stated Tom Brassington, Chief Technology Officer at Horizon Aircraft. “Marshall’s engineers have integrated seamlessly into our development process, serving as an extension of our team and applying their expertise to developing one of the safest, toughest, and most performant modern VTOL aircraft.”

Mark Hewer, Aero Engineering Services Director at Marshall Aerospace, noted that the program demonstrates the company’s ability to translate engineering experience across complex challenges, including platform modifications and test beds. Hewer added that the company is prepared to support Horizon Aircraft through the safety-critical development work required for commercial and military aviation applications.

Development timeline and fan-in-wing technology

The Cavorite X7 is a dual-use hybrid-electric VTOL designed for both commercial and military operations. It features a patented fan-in-wing design that utilizes lift fans for vertical takeoff before transitioning to forward flight. According to the Manufacturers, the aircraft is projected to offer a 75% cost-efficiency advantage compared to conventional helicopters.

Horizon Aircraft validated the fan-in-wing technology during a successful transition flight of a large-scale prototype in May 2025. With the initial steady level flight model now delivered, Marshall Aerospace is developing additional flight regime models to support the ongoing certification process.

Horizon Aircraft expects to complete the assembly of the full-scale Cavorite X7 in late 2026. Flight testing of the full-scale aircraft is scheduled to commence in early 2027.

AirPro News analysis

We note that the partnership between an established aerospace engineering firm like Marshall Aerospace and an emerging VTOL developer highlights a maturing phase in the advanced air mobility sector. By outsourcing complex, safety-critical flight dynamics modeling to a legacy contractor, Horizon Aircraft reduces its developmental risk and leverages established certification experience. The successful integration of the 6-DOF model will be a crucial technical gate before the Cavorite X7 can safely transition from hover to forward flight in full-scale testing next year.

Sources: Marshall Group

Four major European aerospace and energy companies announced an agreement on June 9, 2026, to establish a joint venture aimed at producing 160,000 tons of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) annually in Northern France. The partnership between Technip Energies, Airbus, Safran, and Tereos will create a new entity named Rebound, focusing on the Alcohol-to-Jet (AtJ) production pathway at the Port of Dunkirk.

According to a press release issued by Airbus, the initiative is designed to secure localized production of advanced ethanol from agricultural and forestry residues. The facility aims to address the European Union (EU) ReFuelEU Aviation regulation, which mandates a 6 percent SAF blending target by 2030 and a 70 percent target by 2050.

Scaling Alcohol-to-Jet technology

The Rebound facility is projected to be one of the largest SAF plants in Europe, targeting an annual output of 160,000 tons. The project covers the entire value chain, from securing agricultural feedstock to delivering the final aviation fuel to operators. The joint venture is expected to be finalized in the second half of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.

Technip Energies Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer Benjamin Lechuga described the AtJ pathway as a credible and scalable route to decarbonize the aviation sector. Tereos Chief Strategy Officer Jérôme Bos noted that the project aligns with efforts to create low-carbon industrial value chains utilizing agricultural production.

Regulatory mandates and European energy sovereignty

The regulatory framework established by the EU is expected to drive an eightfold increase in SAF demand between 2030 and 2050. In response to these requirements and global headwinds facing renewable energy, the Rebound joint venture is explicitly framed around strengthening European energy supply security and sovereignty.

“The Rebound project is a vote of confidence in SAF and in Europe’s ability to be a leader in the journey to decarbonise aviation,” stated Julie Kitcher, Chief Sustainability Officer and Communications at Airbus.

Safran Chief Sustainability Officer Nathalie Stubler added that developing SAF at scale is essential for the industry and that the project brings together necessary French and European expertise to support a competitive domestic fuel market.

AirPro News analysis

We view the formation of the Rebound joint venture as a direct industrial response to the aggressive timelines set by the ReFuelEU Aviation mandate. While aerospace manufacturers like Airbus and Safran do not traditionally produce fuel, their direct investment in the Rebound project highlights the critical bottleneck that SAF supply presents to their long-term decarbonization commitments. By partnering with energy and agricultural specialists like Technip Energies and Tereos, the aerospace sector is attempting to vertically integrate the SAF supply chain to ensure the 2030 and 2050 blending targets remain viable. The choice of the Alcohol-to-Jet pathway also indicates a strategic pivot toward mature, scalable technologies that can utilize existing European agricultural infrastructure without waiting for next-generation synthetic fuel pathways to mature.

Sources: Airbus