Rolls-Royce showcases progress in future aviation technologies to Clean Aviation | Rolls-Royce

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Rolls-Royce recently welcomed Axel Krein, Executive Director of the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking, and members of his team to its Derby facilities to showcase progress across a range of UltraFan technologies being developed to support the future of aviation.

Hosted by Alan Newby, Director of Research and Technology at Rolls-Royce, the visit provided an opportunity to share progress across the company’s UltraFan technology portfolio, future narrowbody demonstrator activity and hydrogen research.~

The delegation heard more about the next phase of work on the UltraFan 80 demonstrator as it prepares to return to test, alongside the development of the UltraFan 30 demonstrator and technologies being explored for future narrowbody and widebody applications.

Alan Newby said:

It was a great opportunity to welcome our partners from the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking and share the progress being made across our future technology programmes.

“Collaboration is critical if we are to accelerate the development and demonstration of the technologies that could shape the next generation of aviation, and visits like this give us an important opportunity to align on the challenges ahead and the progress we can make together.”

Axel Krein, Executive Director Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking, added:

We are pleased to continue our strong partnership with Rolls-Royce through HEAVEN and UNIFIED projects, which are advancing the UltraFan 30 technologies, and through CAVENDISH, which is developing the enabling combustion and engine system technologies for hydrogen-powered gas turbines with a combined EU contribution of ~€115M.”

The visit builds on the relationship between Rolls-Royce and Clean Aviation, bringing together industry and European research programmes to help advance technologies.

About Rolls-Royce Holdings plc

Rolls-Royce is a force for progress; powering, protecting and connecting people everywhere. Our products and service packages help our customers meet the growing need for power across multiple industries; enable governments to equip their armed forces with the power required to protect their citizens; and connect people, societies, cultures and economies together.
Rolls-Royce has a local presence in 47 countries and customers in over a hundred more, including airlines and aircraft leasing companies, armed forces and navies, and marine and industrial customers.
Through our multi-year transformation programme, we are building a high-performing, competitive, resilient and growing Rolls-Royce. We are building the financial capacity and agility to allow us to successfully develop and deliver the products that will support our customers through the energy transition.
Annual underlying revenue was £20.1 billion in 2025, and underlying operating profit was £3.46 billion.
Rolls-Royce Holdings plc is a publicly traded company (LSE: RR., ADR: RYCEY, LEI: 213800EC7997ZBLZJH69).
Rolls-Royce Power Systems is headquartered in Friedrichshafen in southern Germany and employs around 11,000 people. The product portfolio includes mtu-brand high-speed engines and propulsion systems for ships, heavy land, rail and defence vehicles and for the oil and gas industry. The portfolio also includes diesel and gas systems and battery containers for mission critical, standby and continuous power, combined generation of heat and power, and microgrids. With its climate friendly technologies, Rolls-Royce Power Systems is helping to drive the energy transition.

www.rolls-royce.com

About Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking

The Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking is the European Union’s leading research and innovation programme for transforming aviation towards a sustainable and climate-neutral future. It is a successful European public-private partnership between the European Commission through Horizon Europe, the EU research and innovation programme, and the European aeronautics industry. It has a budget of €4.1 billion divided into €1.7 billion in EU funding and no less than €2.4 billion in private funding. The programme’s disruptive clean aviation technologies will help reduce the emission footprint of short-medium range and regional aircraft by no less than 30% compared to 2020 state-of-the-art aircraft. Clean Aviation builds on the knowledge and expertise of the Clean Sky programmes (2008-2024).

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