TLDR
- Collins Aerospace has started early testing of electric motor drive systems for the EU’s Clean Aviation SWITCH program
- Testing is taking place at “The Grid,” Collins’ electric power systems lab in Rockford, Illinois
- Engineers are evaluating motor generators, control electronics, and power distribution hardware
- The hybrid-electric system is planned to later integrate with a demonstrator Pratt & Whitney GTF engine
- Both Collins Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney are RTX business units
RTX’s Collins Aerospace unit has kicked off initial lab testing of electric motor drive systems as part of the European Union’s Clean Aviation SWITCH program. The program is focused on evaluating hybrid-electric propulsion for future commercial aircraft.
The testing is underway at Collins’ electric power systems facility in Rockford, Illinois — known internally as “The Grid.” It’s a dedicated lab built for this kind of high-voltage, complex systems work.
Engineers at the facility are running integrated tests on key components of a hybrid-electric powertrain. That includes motor generators, controllers, and power distribution systems.
This phase is described as early-stage. The goal is to build toward something more ambitious.
Integration With Pratt & Whitney GTF Engine Planned
The next step is to connect the hybrid-electric powertrain subsystem with a full-scale demonstrator version of the Pratt & Whitney GTF engine. That integration phase has not yet begun.
Both Collins Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney sit under the RTX umbrella, which puts RTX at the center of two major technology threads within the SWITCH program.
The Clean Aviation SWITCH project is an EU-funded initiative. It’s designed to push forward research into hybrid-electric propulsion as a path toward lower-emission commercial aviation.
Collins Aerospace has not disclosed a timeline for when the GTF integration phase will begin. The current Rockford testing represents the first confirmed milestone under the program.
What’s Being Tested
The powertrain hardware under evaluation includes motor generators — components that can function as both an electric motor and a generator. These are paired with control electronics that manage power flow.
Power distribution hardware is also being tested. This type of hardware directs electrical energy through the system and is a critical part of any hybrid propulsion setup.
The testing environment at “The Grid” is equipped to handle the kind of electrical loads that would be needed for aircraft-scale hybrid systems. Collins built the facility specifically for electric power systems development.
RTX has not commented on any financial terms tied to the SWITCH program contract. EU Clean Aviation is a public-private partnership, with industry partners typically sharing costs alongside EU funding.
Collins Aerospace announced the start of testing on Monday, March 16. No further program milestones have been publicly disclosed at this time.
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