GE Aerospace has successfully completed ground testing of a hybrid-electric turbofan engine system, a key milestone in bringing electric propulsion closer to mainstream commercial aviation.

The tests, conducted at GE’s Peebles Test Operation in Ohio, used a modified Passport engine as part of NASA’s Turbofan Engine Power Extraction Demonstration project. Unlike traditional testing of standalone components, this effort focused on integrating electrical systems directly into a high-bypass turbofan, evaluating how the entire engine behaves as a hybrid-electric system.

According to GE, the ground campaign demonstrated the ability to extract power from the engine, transfer it through electrical systems and inject it back into propulsion while maintaining stable operation. Engineers also tested embedding electric motor-generators within the gas turbine itself, enabling the engine to operate with or without onboard energy storage.

NASA officials highlighted the uniqueness of the project. “Turbines already exist. Compressors already exist,” said Anthony Nerone, project manager at NASA Glenn Research Center. “But there is no hybrid-electric engine flying today. And that’s what we were able to see.”

GE confirmed the test results met or exceeded NASA’s technical benchmarks, including targets for fuel efficiency and power requirements for future single-aisle aircraft. Notably, the architecture demonstrated during testing does not rely on batteries, avoiding the weight and certification challenges of large onboard energy storage systems.

The work contributes to CFM International’s RISE (Revolutionary Innovation for Sustainable Engines) program, which aims to reduce fuel burn by more than 20% through new architectures, materials and increased electrical integration. CFM International, a 50-50 joint venture between GE Aerospace and Safran Aircraft Engines, is using these results to mature next-generation narrowbody propulsion concepts for eventual commercial use.

Since its launch in 2021, RISE has accumulated hundreds of tests and thousands of endurance cycles, including work on open-fan engines, compact cores and hybrid-electric systems. While none of these technologies are yet certified, CFM plans to continue ground and flight testing through the decade as concepts mature.

Hybrid-electric propulsion is widely regarded as a bridge between conventional gas turbines and more radical future concepts, such as hydrogen or fully electric aircraft. Rather than replacing the turbofan, the approach supplements power during specific flight phases, improves efficiency and reduces fuel burn without abandoning proven engine designs.

GE Aerospace emphasized that this latest milestone helps narrow the gap between research and real-world application. While challenges remain in certification, durability and system integration, the demonstration proves that hybrid-electric propulsion can move beyond theory into practical engine architectures suitable for next-generation narrowbody aircraft.