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Rolls-Royce to lead EU-funded ELEVATED project demonstrating hybrid-electric propulsion for short- and medium-haul aircraft

Rolls-Royce will lead Clean Aviation’s ELEVATED project to embed a hybrid-electric system into a donor gas-turbine engine, demonstrating propulsion technology for future ultra-efficient short- and medium-range aircraft. The initiative is part of €290 million in newly approved EU funding supporting 19 projects and €664 million in total research effort.

Discovered 2026-09-18T01:19:55.780755-07:00 | 2026-09-18T01:19:55.780755-07:00

Briefing

What Hype is tracking

The project advances hybrid-electric propulsion from research toward demonstration, with Clean Aviation targeting technology and certification readiness level 6 by 2030.
Rolls-Royce’s leadership gives the program direct relevance to future short- and medium-haul aircraft propulsion strategies, while the broader funding package signals continued EU support for clean-aviation technology development.
The €290 million EU commitment, part of €664 million in total research effort across 19 projects, establishes the scale of public-private investment behind next-generation propulsion research.

Reported By

Urban Air Mobility News Airline Economics aerotelegraph.com FlightGlobal Aviation Week