GE Begins Testing Hybrid Aircraft Engine After Years of Anticipation

Company is exploring ‘megawatt-class’ propulsion systems under a contract with NASA.

Jack Daleo

Thursday, June 04, 2026 at 03:11 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

GE Aerospace’s hybrid electric engine system, developed in partnership with NASA, has been put through its first fully integrated ground tests. [Credit: GE Aerospace]

Key Takeaways:

GE Aerospace successfully completed its first ground test of a megawatt-class, fully integrated hybrid-electric powertrain system, a significant milestone paving the way for future flight testing.
Developed through NASA's Electrified Powertrain Flight Demonstration (EPFD) program, this system combines an electric powertrain with a traditional gas turbine, aiming to deliver improvements in durability, range, and efficiency.
The ground test is part of GE's broader efforts, including collaborations with NASA and strategic investments, to mature hybrid-electric engine technology for next-generation commercial aircraft by the 2030s.

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Several airlines’ ambitions for hybrid-electric aviation may have been dashed this week following the bankruptcy of Dutch manufacturer Maeve Aerospace. But as one company searches for a new path forward, another is preparing for hybrid-electric flight tests.

GE Aerospace said Thursday that it completed its first ground test of a fully integrated, hybrid-electric powertrain that it described as “megawatt-class.” Developed through NASA’s Electrified Powertrain Flight Demonstration (EPFD) program under a five-year, $260 million contract, the system combines an electric powertrain and traditional gas turbine that GE believes will deliver improvements in durability, range, and efficiency.