MONTREAL - Pratt & Whitney Canada's parent company RTX has unveiled additional details on a hybrid-electric version of its PW127 turboprop engine under a €101 million ($117 million) EU Clean Aviation initiative called PHARES. Launched in early 2026, the program aims to demonstrate a 20% reduction in fuel burn against a 2020 baseline.

The engine, based on an advanced derivative of the 2,750-shaft-horsepower PW127 that powers ATR 42 and 72-series aircraft, will incorporate aerodynamic improvements and new materials alongside a 250-kilowatt Collins Aerospace electric motor mounted on the propeller gearbox. The electric motor will supply roughly 12% of the demonstrator engine's overall power requirement, though Collins Aerospace principal technical fellow Todd Spierling cautioned that figure could shift as the program matures.

P&WC has not yet determined how the projected fuel savings will be divided between improvements to the thermal engine and the hybrid system. A new propeller being developed by Collins subsidiary Ratier Figeac will also contribute to efficiency gains, and the entire package, including a thermal management system, is designed to fit within the existing nacelle structure.

Flight testing of the hybridized engine is slated for 2029 under the ATR-led DEMETRA project, with results expected to inform ATR's decision on the scope of its proposed Evo aircraft upgrade. If ATR proceeds, the Evo would enter service around 2035.

Source: Flightglobal
Associated URL: https://www.flightglobal.com/engines/pandwc-details-hybridisation-plan-for-pw127-engine-that-could-power-atr-evo/166726.article
Author: Dominic Perry 

TOULOUSE - Airbus is escalating its dispute with Pratt & Whitney by seeking financial compensation for ongoing delays in engine deliveries that are disrupting aircraft production. The issue centers on limited engine supply, as manufacturers juggle competing demands between building new engines for Airbus and servicing existing engines for airlines, many of which have aircraft grounded.

The delays, linked in part to earlier manufacturing issues, have forced Airbus to adjust production expectations and raised tensions across the industry. Airbus argues that Pratt & Whitney has not met agreed delivery commitments, while the engine maker says it is trying to balance competing needs.

The conflict highlights broader post-pandemic supply chain constraints and a growing strain between planemakers, suppliers, and airlines. It could potentially lead to arbitration and may influence future partnerships as Airbus evaluates long-term engine strategy decisions.

Source: Reuters
Associated URL: https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/airbus-seeks-pratt-whitney-damages-over-engine-delays-sources-say-2026-03-19/
Author: Tim Hepher 

LONDON - Rolls-Royce has secured €64 million in European Union funding to lead a multinational research consortium aimed at advancing next-generation narrowbody jet engine technology. The grant, awarded through the EU's Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking, will support a project called UNIFIED (Ultra Novel and Innovative Fully Integrated Engine Demonstrations), focused on developing and ground testing the UltraFan 30 demonstrator, with testing planned for 2028 and a pathway toward future flight testing.

The funding is part of the EU's broader Clean Aviation Call 3, which is committing roughly €945 million across selected projects to accelerate sustainable aviation technology development. The UNIFIED consortium, led by Rolls-Royce, draws together industrial, academic and research partners from France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and the United Kingdom. The project aims to mature propulsion technologies suited for future narrowbody aircraft, the workhorse segment of commercial aviation, while strengthening European supply chain resilience and advancing technology readiness.

The UltraFan architecture features an ultra-high bypass ratio design that Rolls-Royce and its partners believe could deliver a 30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to 2020 state-of-the-art technology for short- to medium-range aircraft entering service in 2035. UNIFIED builds on prior Clean Aviation research programs, including an earlier effort called HEAVEN, which also focused on scalable UltraFan architecture. Consortium partners and Clean Aviation program officials recently gathered in the United Kingdom for a formal project kickoff meeting to align on objectives and initial program activities.

Source: Rolls-Royce
Associated URL: https://www.rolls-royce.com/media/press-releases/2026/17-03-2026-rr-secures-euro-64m-to-advance-ultrafan-30-demonstrator-through-unified-partnership.aspx