Airbus to Test Hybrid‑Electric Power Architecture for Future Commercial Jets by 2027

Airbus is leading the development of a hybrid‑electric power architecture, dubbed LEIA (Large Scale Integration Demonstrator of Hybrid Electrical Architecture), aimed at supplying high‑voltage electricity to non‑propulsion systems of future passenger aircraft. The project, financed by the European Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking, involves a consortium of European and U.S. companies and universities, including AVL, Collins Aerospace, Liebherr Aerospace, Safran, SAFT, Fraunhofer‑Gesellschaft, Lynxeo, NLR, the University of Warwick and the Wrocław University of Science and Technology.

The goal is to integrate generators, batteries, power electronics and distribution networks into a single, lightweight, reliable system that can dynamically switch energy sources and manage diverse power demands on board. While the architecture does not provide the main aircraft thrust, it paves the way for higher levels of aircraft electrification. Airbus plans a full‑scale ground demonstration of the system in 2027, after which the technology could be certified for use in short‑ and medium‑range commercial jets.

The initiative builds on earlier Airbus projects such as SWITCH and runs alongside parallel work on fuel‑cell technology through the Aerostack joint venture with ElringKlinger.