en.Wedoany.com Report on Mar 23rd, Rolls-Royce has secured €64 million in EU funding to lead a collaborative research project supporting the development and planned ground testing of the UltraFan 30 engine. Awarded by the EU's Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking, this funding will support the Ultra Novel Innovation Fully Integrated Engine Demonstrator (UNIFIED) project. The project will focus on maturing next-generation propulsion technologies for future narrow-body aircraft applications, with ground testing of the UltraFan 30 demonstrator planned for 2028.
The UNIFIED consortium, led by Rolls-Royce, includes industrial and research partners from France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and the UK. This collaboration aims to enhance industrial capabilities, improve supply chain resilience, and establish the necessary technology readiness for future narrow-body applications. Alan Newby, Director of Research & Technology at Rolls-Royce, stated, "UNIFIED is a significant step in maturing UltraFan technologies that could underpin future narrow-body applications. The narrow-body segment is central to global aviation growth, and achieving step-change efficiency improvements in that market is crucial for long-term sustainability." The engine project accelerates technology readiness through the Clean Aviation program, collaborating with leading industrial, academic, and research partners.
Maria Calvo Blanco, Head of Unit Project Management at Clean Aviation, added, "We value the long-term partnership with Rolls-Royce, built on previous research projects and focusing on the scalable UltraFan architecture within Clean Aviation, starting with the HEAVEN project, followed by UNIFIED. UNIFIED's contribution to developing ultra-high bypass ratio technology will be a decisive step towards achieving the goal of a 30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions for short- to medium-range aircraft entering service in 2035, compared to the state-of-the-art technology in 2020." Partners in this engine project include aerospace companies Airbus, ITP Aero, Lufthansa Technik, and Aerospace Transmission Technologies, along with several universities and research institutions.
The EU's Clean Aviation third call for proposals is investing approximately €945 million to accelerate the development of sustainable aviation technologies. Consortium members recently attended a formal kick-off meeting in the UK to outline project plans and objectives. The advancement of this engine project will contribute to providing more efficient propulsion solutions for future narrow-body aircraft.
