Collins Aerospace has successfully completed the HECATE project, part of the European Union’s ‘Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking’, with support from UK Research and Innovation. The initiative reached Technology Readiness Level 5 (TRL5), demonstrating the electrical architecture design for future hybrid-electric aircraft under real-world conditions.
The Hybrid-ElectriC regional Aircraft distribution TEchnologies (HECATE) project achieved this milestone in late 2025 following comprehensive testing, verification and validation of its Electrical Power Generation and Distribution System. A hybrid-electric system generating more than 500 kilowatts of power was tested using Safran Electrical & Power’s Copper Bird platform in Niort, France, which enables the simulation and validation of advanced electrical systems in a controlled environment.
The HECATE consortium brings together a range of European aerospace partners, including Collins Aerospace, Safran, Airbus Defence and Space, Leonardo and several universities. Collins, through its Applied Research & Technology organisation and Power & Controls business, led the project’s steering committee, while Safran Electrical & Power acted as technical coordinator. Phase 1 of the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking programme incorporated digital twin technology to simulate real-world operations, significantly reducing testing time while ensuring compliance with stringent electromagnetic compatibility standards. This enabled safe system operation without interference, even in the presence of external electromagnetic fields.
Completion of HECATE represents an important step towards advancing Phase 2 Clean Aviation projects such as OSYRYS and LEIA. OSYRYS, led by Safran Electrical & Power, focuses on the development and testing of electrical systems for hybrid-electric regional aircraft, while LEIA, led by Airbus, aims to integrate and validate hybrid-electric architecture in a laboratory environment in preparation for the entry into service of new short- to medium-range aircraft by 2035. These initiatives build on the ongoing collaboration between Airbus, Safran and Collins to accelerate the development of hybrid-electric aviation.
