On July 22, 2026, Collins Aerospace announced the successful completion of integrated lab testing for a 1-megawatt hybrid-electric powertrain subsystem, marking a critical milestone in the European Union’s Clean Aviation SWITCH project. The technology will now transfer to Airbus for aircraft-level integration, advancing the development of microhybridization for next-generation single-aisle commercial aircraft.

In a press release issued during the Farnborough International Air Show, the RTX business unit confirmed that the testing took place at The Grid, its electric power systems laboratory in Rockford, Illinois. The subsystems operated successfully alongside simulated aircraft and engine systems. The initiative aims to reduce fuel consumption and emissions by at least 30 percent compared to 2020 state-of-the-art aircraft, aligning with the broader goals of the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking.

Powertrain specifications and the SWITCH project

The testing at The Grid involved an 800-volt powertrain and two 1-megawatt class motor generators integrated into a simulated Pratt & Whitney Geared Turbofan (GTF) engine. According to reporting by Aviation Week, the total power of the turbine engine being hybridized is approximately 20 megawatts, while The Grid laboratory itself possesses an 8-megawatt total power capacity.

The four-year SWITCH project, launched in January 2023 with a budget of £67.6 million ($77.1 million), represents a collaborative effort involving Collins Aerospace, Airbus, Pratt & Whitney, GKN Aerospace, and MTU Aero Engines. Kristin Smith, Vice President of Electric Power Systems at Collins Aerospace, noted the scale of the achievement.

“This is the largest integrated systems test conducted at The Grid since its opening in 2023,” Smith stated in the company release. “By combining our technology expertise with deep industry collaboration, we are demonstrating how hybrid-electric systems can significantly reduce fuel consumption for next-generation aircraft.”

Transitioning to the LEIA project and Airbus integration

With the SWITCH testing phase complete, focus now shifts to the Airbus-led Large scalE Integration demonstrator of hybrid electrical Architecture (LEIA) project. Preliminary work for LEIA began in December 2025. Collins Aerospace will act as the technical lead for energy sources, supplying scalable electric motor generators, electronic controllers, and power distribution equipment.

Future testing for the LEIA project will span multiple European sites, including facilities in Toulouse, France; Frankfurt, Germany; Cork, Ireland; Rome, Italy; and Solihull, United Kingdom. Aviation Week reports that ground demonstration tests are planned for 2027 at Airbus facilities in Toulouse, utilizing a modified Airbus A400M iron bird test rig.

The technology centers on microhybridization, which allows for power extraction, insertion, and transfer between the high- and low-pressure shafts of the engine. This capability can be utilized for taxiing, takeoff power boosts, and transient operating conditions. Aviation Week identifies this system as a leading candidate for Airbus’s next-generation single-aisle aircraft concept, known as the eAction.

“One of the advantages of hybrid-electric propulsion is not to have this power takeoff wasted, but to use it,” Pierre Durel, Project Officer at Clean Aviation, told Aviation Week.

AirPro News analysis

We view the successful integration testing at The Grid as a strong indicator that microhybridization is maturing from a conceptual framework into a viable hardware pathway for the mid-2030s single-aisle replacement cycle. The €4.1 billion Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking is heavily incentivizing European and US aerospace manufacturers to collaborate on these transitional technologies. By targeting a 2030 timeline to reach Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6, the consortium is aligning its development schedule precisely with the anticipated launch windows for the successors to the Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX families. The ability to extract and insert power dynamically across engine shafts offers a pragmatic step toward emission reductions without requiring the immediate leap to fully electric-aviation or hydrogen propulsion systems.

Sources: RTX

Airbus SE and CFM International unveiled the livery for the Airbus A380 flight lab dedicated to testing the CFM RISE (Revolutionary Innovation for Sustainable Engines) Open Fan engine architecture at the Farnborough International Airshow on July 21, 2026.

The presentation coincides with the completion of the first conceptual flight test design review. The joint program between Airbus and CFM International, a 50/50 joint company between GE Aerospace and Safran Aircraft Engines, aims to reduce fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions by 20 percent compared to current commercial engines.

Transitioning to flight test preparation

The designated testbed aircraft, an Airbus A380 identified as Manufacturer Serial Number (MSN) 114, departed a six-year desert storage in France on July 16, 2026. The aircraft relocated to Shannon, Ireland, to undergo painting and structural modifications. Engineers will eventually mount the open fan engine in the number 2 position on the inboard left wing for the Test-Flights campaign.

CFM International recently completed the preliminary design review for the compact core system, open fan, and outlet guide vanes. Arjan Hegeman, Vice President of Future of Flight Engineering at GE Aerospace, stated that this milestone allows the Manufacturing of parts for the grounded demonstrator to begin.

Prioritizing engine durability

While the open fan design removes the traditional engine casing to accommodate a larger fan and reduce drag, program leaders are placing equal emphasis on component longevity. GE Aerospace has completed over 350 tests and 3,000 endurance cycles on core components, which includes early dust ingestion testing.

“If there’s anything we’ve learned over the last years, it’s that durability matters as much as, if not more than, fuel efficiency,” Hegeman said.

Hegeman noted that the engineering teams are aiming to reach technology readiness level six by the turn of the decade.

AirPro News analysis

The explicit focus on durability during the early testing phases of the CFM RISE program reflects a broader industry shift. Current-generation narrowbody engines have faced well-documented time-on-wing and maintenance challenges, prompting Manufacturers to prioritize robust operating characteristics alongside fuel efficiency gains. By subjecting core components to 3,000 endurance cycles and dust ingestion tests years before the first flight, CFM International is working to ensure the open fan architecture can withstand harsh operational environments from entry into service. We expect this dual mandate of efficiency and reliability to define the Certification pathway for next-generation Propulsion systems.

Sources: GE Aerospace Press Release

Joby Aviation, Inc. (JOBY) and Toyota Motor Corporation (TM) have formalized their nearly decade-long partnership by establishing a joint venture to manufacture electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The new entity, named the Joby Toyota Aero Manufacturing Preparation Company, will focus on scaling commercial production of the Joby S4 Series eVTOL aircraft.

Announced in a press release on June 30, 2026, following a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) 8-K filing on June 29, 2026, the alliance combines Joby’s electric aviation technology with Toyota’s established production systems expertise. The joint venture will operate across locations in Santa Cruz, California, and Toyota City, Japan.

Joint venture structure and financial stakes

Toyota holds a 51 percent majority stake in the new manufacturing company, acquired through the purchase of 1.02 million shares for $1.02 million. Joby retains the remaining 49 percent stake, having purchased 980,000 shares for $980,000. The joint venture will be governed by a five-member board of directors, with three members designated by Toyota and two designated by Joby.

The agreement includes specific intellectual property licensing arrangements between the two parent companies. Joby will license certain aircraft-related intellectual property to the joint venture on a royalty-free basis. In return, Toyota will license manufacturing-related intellectual property to the venture, which includes certain royalty-bearing rights.

Scaling eVTOL production

The formal joint venture builds upon a foundation of significant financial and technical support from the Japanese automaker. Toyota has provided approximately $900 million in total capital to Joby to date. The automaker is already providing technical assistance as Joby establishes a series production line for the S4 eVTOL aircraft at a facility in Ohio.

In the June 30 press release, Joby Aviation founder and CEO JoeBen Bevirt highlighted the depth of the corporate relationship.

“Toyota has been by Joby’s side for nearly a decade, providing invaluable guidance and support as we built the foundation for Manufacturing our aircraft. Today’s announcement reflects the strength of our relationship and our shared confidence in the opportunity ahead.”

Toyota Motor Corporation Chairman Akio Toyoda stated that the company views air mobility as a natural extension of its philosophy of providing mobility for all, expanding its focus from the ground into the sky to bring new value to society.

Certification progress and next steps

The manufacturing alliance aligns with Joby’s ongoing Certification efforts with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). During the first quarter of 2026, Joby began flying its first FAA-conforming aircraft for type inspection authorization. This testing phase is a required step as the company works toward achieving full FAA type certification for the S4 Series.

With the joint venture now legally established, the two companies will begin integrating their engineering and manufacturing teams across the California and Japan facilities to prepare for high-volume aircraft production.

AirPro News analysis

We view the formalization of the Joby Toyota Aero Manufacturing Preparation Company as a critical de-risking event for Joby’s production ambitions. While designing and certifying an eVTOL aircraft presents significant regulatory hurdles, manufacturing these vehicles at scale with automotive-style efficiency is an entirely different challenge that has historically troubled aerospace Startups. By securing a majority-stake commitment from Toyota, Joby gains direct access to one of the world’s most proven manufacturing systems. Furthermore, the intellectual property arrangement, where Toyota retains royalty-bearing rights on its manufacturing processes, suggests the automaker sees long-term revenue potential in aerospace production beyond its initial capital Investments.

Sources: Joby Aviation, Inc. and Toyota Motor Corporation