Airbus and partners from across the European Union, United Kingdom and United States are advancing the development of a hybrid-electric, non-propulsive energy architecture for the next generation of commercial aircraft. The Large Scale Integration Demonstrator of Hybrid Electrical Architecture, known as LEIA, will support the development of high-voltage generation and distribution technologies for innovative electrical systems in future short-to-medium-range aircraft.
Supported by the European Union Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking, LEIA is intended to bridge the gap between individual component development and aircraft-level maturity, helping prepare the technologies for future integration and certification.
“Our progress in developing hybrid-electric technologies and our move into the LEIA demonstrator marks a pivotal shift in how we design the future of flight,” said Karim Mokaddem, Head of aircraft of tomorrow Research and Technology at Airbus. “By moving to integrated, intelligent hybrid-electric architectures, we are actively laying the physical and digital foundation for the next generation of aircraft. This evolution demonstrates that the future of aviation is about more than just new power sources; it is also about the new ecosystems that will manage them.”
Airbus is advancing high-voltage power generation, distribution and energy-management technologies through the LEIA hybrid-electric aircraft project. Photo courtesy of Airbus.
LEIA builds on the recently completed SWITCH project, which focused on hybrid-electric powertrain subsystems. The project reached a key milestone in July 2026 when Collins Aerospace completed integrated laboratory testing of the subsystems at The Grid, its advanced electric power systems laboratory in Rockford, Illinois. The tested systems operated alongside simulated aircraft and engine systems. The work was completed through collaboration involving Airbus, Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, GKN Aerospace and MTU Aero Engines. The subsystems are now transitioning to the Airbus Sustainable Technology and Engineering Projects laboratory in Ottobrunn, Germany. Airbus teams will conduct aircraft-level integration testing involving aircraft design, battery interfacing and energy-management systems.
Airbus is leading the integration of advanced electrical components that include scalable motor-generators, next-generation electronic controllers, power distribution equipment and other aircraft systems. The technologies will be evaluated through a comprehensive testing program expected to culminate in a ground demonstration by 2027. Both SWITCH and LEIA build on Airbus’ involvement in multiple Clean Aviation projects targeting electrification technologies for regional and short-to-medium-range aircraft. The programs are intended to address the technical requirements and cross-border supply chain integration needed to support the aviation industry’s transition toward more-electric aircraft and ultimately reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Airbus is collaborating on LEIA with AVL, Collins Aerospace, the European Aerospace Science Network, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Liebherr Aerospace, Lynxeo, the Netherlands Aerospace Centre, Safran, SAFT, the University of Warwick and Wroclaw University of Science and Technology.
About Airbus
Airbus is a global aerospace company serving the commercial aircraft, helicopter, defense and space markets. The company designs, manufactures and supports commercial airliners, civil and military helicopters, military transport and combat aircraft, satellites, launch systems, secure communications technologies and related services. Drawing on more than 50 years of aerospace engineering and international industrial collaboration, Airbus operates through its Commercial Aircraft, Helicopters, and Defence and Space businesses. Its commercial aircraft portfolio includes the A220, A320, A330 and A350 families, supported by engineering, manufacturing, assembly and customer-service operations across Europe, the Americas, Asia and other global markets. Airbus is also developing technologies intended to improve aircraft safety, efficiency and environmental performance. Its research and development activities include advanced aerodynamics, lightweight materials, digital aircraft systems, sustainable aviation fuels, hydrogen, electrification, hybrid-electric architectures and new approaches to aircraft energy management. For more information, please click here.
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Molly Bakewell Chamberlin is the Founder, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Components Source Network, a 100% woman- and disability-owned B2B publishing and expert marketplace platform serving the global high-tech manufacturing and engineering community. She is the architect, author and developer of the Network’s 11 specialized e-news sites and 11 peer-vetted expert e-marketplaces, including Aerospace Technology Monthly. With more than 25 years of experience in strategic technical marketing, public relations and business development, she is also the Founder and President of Embassy Global, LLC, which has supported more than 200 high-tech industry brands worldwide since 2008. Molly also serves pro bono as Second Vice Chair of the Government Team for the WBENC Forum and is a long-standing advocate for small business, supplier diversity, sustainability and women in STEM. Connect with Molly on LinkedIn.
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