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GE Aerospace Showcases Advances in Hybrid Electric Propulsion at Verticon 2025
By leveraging its expertise in both traditional gas turbine engines and electrical systems, GE Aerospace is pioneering scalable hybrid electric solutions that will shape the next era of aviation.
www.geaerospace.com
GE Aerospace is driving innovation by advancing hybrid-electric propulsion technologies through significant investment in cutting-edge demonstrators and strategic partnerships. These technologies are being showcased at the 2025 Verticon Conference this week.
The company’s hybrid electric demonstrators to test the integration of electrical power systems with turboshaft, turboprop, and turbofan gas engines include:
- Sikorsky HEX (Hybrid-Electric eXperimental): Advancing vertical flight technologies, this program involves the integration of a GE Aerospace hybrid-electric system comprised of a CT7 turboshaft engine, electric motor/generator and associated power electronics to power Sikorsky’s hybrid electric vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) demonstrator.
- Army ARC-STEP (Applied Research Collaborative Systematic Turboshaft Electrification Project): The program focused on the research, development, and testing of a MW-class electrified powerplant and the further evaluation of how hybrid electric systems can enhance military rotorcraft performance, delivering operational efficiencies and tactical advantages.
- EPFD (Electrified Powertrain Flight Demonstration): This program centers on the development and testing of a megawatt (MW)-class hybrid electric powertrain for ground and flight tests this decade in collaboration with NASA and Boeing. This effort looks to enhance commercial aviation’s understanding of flightworthy hybrid electric engine architectures for improved fuel efficiency and performance compared to today’s commercial aircraft engines.
- Turbofan Engine Power Extraction Demonstration: As part of a hybrid electric demonstrator engine program with NASA, teams will embed electric motor/generators in a high-bypass commercial turbofan to supplement power during different phases of operation, creating a system that can work with or without energy storage like batteries.
These demonstrators are generating critical insights that are shaping the next generation of hybrid-electric propulsion systems.
“At GE Aerospace, we think the future of flight is more electric. To that end, we’re pursuing a range of hybrid electric programs that will demonstrate the integration of power electronics with gas turbines compatible with multiple energy sources, meeting our customers’ needs for more efficient propulsion systems,” said Christine Andrews, executive hybrid electric systems leader for GE Aerospace.
In addition, GE Aerospace is collaborating with Bell for the DARPA SPRINT HSVTOL (High-Speed Vertical Take-Off and Landing) program. Beyond these programs, GE Aerospace has developed convertible engine technologies, which merge the capabilities of turbofans and turboshafts, as well as hybrid-electric propulsors that could be applicable to future HSVTOL applications.
“At GE Aerospace, we think the future of flight is more electric. To that end, we’re pursuing a range of hybrid electric programs that will demonstrate the integration of power electronics with gas turbines compatible with multiple energy sources, meeting our customers’ needs for more efficient propulsion systems,” said Christine Andrews, executive hybrid electric systems leader for GE Aerospace.
In addition, GE Aerospace is collaborating with Bell for the DARPA SPRINT HSVTOL (High-Speed Vertical Take-Off and Landing) program. Beyond these programs, GE Aerospace has developed convertible engine technologies, which merge the capabilities of turbofans and turboshafts, as well as hybrid-electric propulsors that could be applicable to future HSVTOL applications.
