RTX's Collins Aerospace announces completion of Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking HECATE project

RTX's Collins Aerospace announces completion of Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking HECATE project

Project achieves Technology Readiness Level 5 for high-voltage electric power systems, accelerating future hybrid-electric propulsion development

CORK, Ireland, March 17, 2026 - Collins Aerospace, an RTX (NYSE: RTX) business, announces the successful completion of the HECATE project, part of the European Union's Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking with support from UK Research and Innovation. This initiative achieved Technology Readiness Level 5, or TRL5, successfully proving the electrical architecture design for future hybrid-electric aircraft performance in real-world conditions.

The Hybrid-ElectriC regional Aircraft distribution TEchnologies project, or HECATE, reached this significant milestone in late 2025 after completing testing, verification and validation of its Electrical Power Generation and Distribution System. A hybrid-electric system producing more than 500 kilowatts of power was tested using the Copper Bird platform of Safran Electrical & Power based in Niort, France. This platform is used to simulate and test advanced electrical systems in a controlled environment.

"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," said Kristin Smith, vice president of Electric Power Systems at Collins Aerospace. "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."

The HECATE consortium is comprised of multiple European aerospace industry partners, including Collins Aerospace, Safran, Airbus Defence and Space, Leonardo and several universities. Collins, through its Applied Research & Technology organization and Power & Controls business, leads the project's steering committee, while Safran Electrical & Power serves as technical coordinator.

"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," said Agnès Pronost-Gilles, executive vice president & general manager for Power Division, Safran Electrical & Power. "This integration highlights the strength of our collaboration and our technical leadership in hybrid-electric and electric propulsion. Safran Electrical & Power is now well-positioned to meet the growing demands for sustainable regional aircraft and to lead the next steps in innovation through Phase 2 of the Clean Aviation Project."

"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," said María Calvo, head of Unit Project Management at Clean Aviation. "The project was jointly developed by 38 participating entities from 11 European countries, proof of the innovative power of European cooperation. 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."

The Phase 1 CAJU project used digital twin technology to simulate real-world operations, which significantly reduced testing time while ensuring the system adhered to strict electromagnetic compatibility standards. This enabled safe operation without interference from or with other devices, even in the presence of external electromagnetic fields.

The completion of HECATE marks a key milestone for advancing Clean Aviation Phase 2 projects like OSYRYS and LEIA. OSYRYS, led by Safran Electrical & Power, focuses on developing and testing electrical systems for hybrid-electric regional aircraft. LEIA, led by Airbus, aims to integrate and test hybrid-electric architecture in a lab environment to prepare for new short-medium range aircraft entry into service by 2035. These projects build on the successful collaboration between Airbus, Safran and Collins to drive hybrid-electric aviation forward.

About Collins Aerospace
Collins Aerospace, an RTX business, is a leader in integrated and intelligent solutions for the global aerospace and defense industry. Our 80,000 employees are dedicated to delivering future-focused technologies to advance sustainable and connected aviation, passenger safety and comfort, mission success, space exploration, and more.

About Safran Electrical & Power
Safran is an international high-technology group, operating in the aviation (propulsion, equipment and interiors), defense and space markets. Its core purpose is to contribute to a safer, more sustainable world, where air transport is more environmentally friendly, comfortable and accessible. Safran has a global presence, with 100,000 employees and sales of 27.3 billion euros in 2024, and holds, alone or in partnership, world or regional leadership positions in its core markets. Safran is listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange and is part of the CAC 40 and Euro Stoxx 50 indices.

Safran Electrical & Power is one of the world's leaders in aircraft electrical systems. The company is a key player in equipment electrification and in the electric and hybrid propulsion sector. It has more than 15,500 employees across 13 different countries.
For more information: www.safran-group.com

About RTX
With more than 180,000 global employees, we push the limits of technology and science to redefine how we connect and protect our world. With industry-leading capabilities, we advance aviation, engineer integrated defense systems for operational success, and develop next-generation technology solutions and manufacturing to help global customers address their most critical challenges. The company, with 2025 sales of more than $88 billion, is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.

About Clean Aviation
The Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking is the European Union's leading research and innovation programme for transforming aviation towards a sustainable and climate-neutral future. It is a European public-private partnership. The programme's disruptive clean aviation technologies will help reduce CO2 of short-medium range aircraft by no less than 30% and -50% for regional range aircraft.

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