LONDON - Rolls-Royce is rolling out a second phase of durability enhancements for the Trent 1000 engine following the certification of new high-pressure turbine (HPT) upgrades in late 2025. This latest update focuses on reducing the weight of the HPT blade shroud to decrease centrifugal stress on the component, while simultaneously adding advanced coatings to the blades and nozzle guide vanes. According to program manager Rachel Walker, the first set of production blades is virtually complete and will be installed in new engines during the first quarter, with the rollout for in-service engines beginning in April as powerplants undergo scheduled refurbishment.

This second phase complements an initial upgrade package, known as the XE, that entered service in November with Lufthansa. The first phase included new HPT blades with 40% more cooling capacity than their predecessors, as well as updates to the combustion system, fuel spray nozzles, and engine electronic controller software. Walker states that while the first package already more than doubled time-on-wing, the second phase is expected to improve that figure by another 30%, offering a combined increase of up to triple the original time-on-wing.

To support the upgrade program, Rolls-Royce has secured approvals from Boeing and regulators in the US and Europe, with Japanese certification expected shortly. The manufacturer has also expanded maintenance capacity in the UK, Germany, and Singapore to accommodate an additional 100 shop visits per year, alongside initiatives to reduce turn times through better parts availability. Over 50 in-service engines have already received the Phase One blades, and the company aims to complete the full rollout across the remaining fleet by the end of 2027.

The durability enhancement package is part of a larger £1 billion ($1.38 billion) investment by Rolls-Royce to improve its in-production Trent engines. While the manufacturer notes it is too early to confirm long-term performance data for the full package, Walker cites experience with the sister Trent 7000 engine as evidence for the projected longevity improvements. As of the end of 2024, Rolls-Royce had 58 Trent 1000 engines remaining in its delivery backlog.

Source: Flightglobal
Associated URL: https://www.flightglobal.com/engines/rolls-royce-readies-roll-out-of-next-trent-1000-durability-upgrade-step/166126.article

ARLINGTON, Va. -- For the fourth quarter of 2025, RTX reported sales of $24.2 billion, an increase of 12 percent compared to $21.6 billion in the same period the previous year. Organic sales growth for the quarter reached 14 percent. Net income attributable to common shareowners for the quarter was $1.6 billion, or $1.19 per share, compared to $1.5 billion, or $1.10 per share, in the fourth quarter of 2024. For the full year, the company recorded total sales of $88.6 billion and a net income of $6.7 billion.

The company ended the fiscal year with a record total backlog of $268 billion, a 23 percent increase over the prior year. This figure includes $161 billion in commercial orders and $107 billion in defense programs. Notable contract activity in the final quarter included a $1.2 billion award for Patriot missile defense systems for Spain and a $1.2 billion contract for Tamir missile production. The defense book-to-bill ratio for the year reached 1.31, reflecting sustained global demand for integrated air and missile defense and precision munitions. These awards support long-term production stability and are aligned with current modernization priorities for international and domestic partners.

Management issued 2026 financial guidance projecting adjusted sales between $92.0 billion and $93.0 billion, representing organic growth of 5 to 6 percent. This outlook indicates a moderate deceleration from 2025 growth rates but provides high revenue visibility given the current backlog. Key execution risks include persistent supply chain constraints in solid rocket motors and castings, as well as approximately $500 million in projected headwinds related to trade frictions and tariffs. The 2026 forecast also assumes continued recovery in commercial aftermarket throughput and a further reduction in aircraft-on-ground levels.

INDUSTRY SEGMENTS

Collins Aerospace

Fourth quarter sales at Collins Aerospace reached $7.7 billion, a 3 percent increase over the prior year. Organic sales growth for the segment was 8 percent when excluding the impact of divestitures, such as the Simmonds Precision Products business. Growth was primarily driven by a 9 percent increase in commercial original equipment and a 13 percent increase in commercial aftermarket volume, largely due to widebody and narrowbody platform demand. Defense sales for the segment remained relatively flat with a 2 percent increase.

Operating profit for Collins Aerospace was $1.4 billion, up 27 percent from the fourth quarter of 2024, though this figure included a gain from the divestiture of the Simmonds business. Adjusted operating profit was $1.22 billion, a 1 percent increase. Performance was bolstered by favorable commercial aftermarket mix and higher volume, though these gains were partially offset by higher tariffs and the loss of income from divested units.

Pratt & Whitney

Pratt & Whitney reported fourth quarter sales of $9.5 billion, representing a 25 percent increase year-over-year. Revenue growth was led by a 30 percent increase in military sales, supported by higher F135 production and sustainment activity. Commercial original equipment sales rose 28 percent, while commercial aftermarket sales increased 21 percent. The segment reported a 39 percent increase in maintenance, repair, and overhaul output as it continues to execute its Geared Turbofan fleet management plan.

Reported operating profit for the segment was $773 million, up 53 percent over the prior year period. Adjusted operating profit rose 8 percent to $776 million. Profitability was driven by volume growth in commercial aftermarket and military programs, though margins were compressed by a less favorable commercial aftermarket mix and higher selling, general, and administrative expenses. Operating margin decreased to 8.2 percent from 9.5 percent in the previous year.

Raytheon

Raytheon recorded fourth quarter sales of $7.7 billion, an increase of 7 percent over the same period in 2024. Growth was primarily attributed to higher volume across air and missile defense programs, including the Patriot and AMRAAM systems. The segment achieved a quarterly book-to-bill ratio of 1.35, resulting in a record segment backlog of $75 billion. International contracts now account for 47 percent of the Raytheon backlog.

Operating profit for the segment reached $885 million, representing a 7 percent increase. Adjusted operating profit grew 22 percent as margins expanded to 11.6 percent from 10.2 percent in the prior year. Profitability improvements were driven by net productivity gains, higher production volume, and a favorable program mix. The segment also benefited from a 20 percent increase in output for critical munitions, including GEM-T interceptors.

Source: Forecast International
Associated URL: ww.rtx.com

CINCINNATI - GE Aerospace successfully demonstrated power transfer, extraction, and injection in a high-bypass commercial turbofan engine as part of its research into a hybrid-electric propulsion system that could power the next generation of narrow-body airliners.

Ground testing of a modified Passport engine was completed in 2025 at Peebles Test Operation as part of NASA’s Turbofan Engine Power Extraction Demonstration project.

GE Aerospace is developing a hybrid-electric architecture that embeds electric motor/generators in a gas turbine engine to supplement power during different phases of operation. The design optimizes performance and creates a system that can work with or without energy storage like batteries.

GE Aerospace says that testing exceeded NASA’s technical performance benchmarks. NASA based these measures on industry input about engine capabilities that would provide meaningful fuel cost savings for U.S. aviation while also meeting the power requirements of future aircraft.

The Power Extraction Demonstration is one of several efforts GE Aerospace has underway to mature technologies for more-electric aircraft engines through the CFM International RISE program.

Unveiled in 2021, the RISE program (short for Revolutionary Innovation for Sustainable Engines) is a comprehensive technology demonstrator program with more than 350 tests and more than 3,000 endurance cycles completed to date, including tests on advanced engine architectures like Open Fan, compact core, and hybrid-electric systems. The RISE program prioritizes safety, durability, and efficiency, targeting more than 20% better fuel burn compared to commercial engines in service today.

CFM RISE program technologies are maturing toward ground and flight tests this decade with work underway on aircraft and engine integration in collaboration with partners.

Through a new strategic partnership and equity investment announced in 2025 with BETA Technologies, the companies plan to develop a hybrid-electric turbogenerator for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) applications.

Source: GE Aerospace
Associated URL: https://www.geaerospace.com/news/press-releases/ge-aerospace-successfully-demonstrates-narrowbody-hybrid-electric-engine-system