GKN Aerospace has joined the ICEFlight (Innovative Cryogenic Electric Flight) consortium, a Dutch aerospace initiative led by Airbus to accelerate the development of cryogenic technologies supporting hydrogen-powered flight.ICEFlight is administered under the Netherlands’ public-private program, Luchtvaart in Transitie (LiT), and is co-funded by the National Growth Fund.
ICEFlight brings together GKN Aerospace, Airbus, and Dutch partners to advance cryogenic hydrogen systems for next-generation sustainable aviation.
The consortium brings together key Dutch aerospace stakeholders, including GKN Aerospace, Cryoworld B.V., Stirling Cryogenics B.V., Futura Composites B.V., the Royal Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR), Delft University of Technology, and the University of Twente. The project is coordinated through the Airbus Tech Hub and Airbus’ innovation subsidiary, Airbus UpNext.
Russ Dunn, Chief Technology Officer at GKN Aerospace, stated: “GKN Aerospace is proud to be a core partner in the ICEFlight project. By leveraging our expertise in both hydrogen systems and electrification, this project marks a significant step towards enabling the scalability of these innovative solutions into larger aircraft applications. Together with Airbus and our Dutch partners, we bring world-leading capabilities in both power network design and cryogenic applications.”
The project will explore the dual use of liquid hydrogen as both a fuel source and a cold sink for cooling advanced electrical systems. Focus areas include cryogenic cooling, electrical distribution, and enabling technologies for superconductivity and hyperconductivity in aerospace applications. GKN Aerospace and its partners will apply knowledge gained in previous hydrogen and electrification projects to help mature these systems in preparation for future flight demonstrations.
Marloes van Put, Head of the Airbus Tech Hub in the Netherlands, added: “ICEFlight is a prime example of the innovations we focus on with the Airbus Tech Hub. By bringing together the brightest minds and cutting-edge technologies within our local ecosystem, we aim to accelerate the maturation of critical cryogenic solutions that will not only benefit our future aircraft but also strengthen the Dutch ecosystem.”
ICEFlight will also support the creation of dedicated cryogenic test infrastructure in the Netherlands, led by the Royal NLR. These facilities will enable the validation of cryogenic cooling and electrical subsystems under aerospace-relevant conditions.
Rob Postma, CEO of Airbus Netherlands, emphasized the broader vision, noting: “The Airbus Tech Hub aims to catalyse breakthroughs in aerospace technology. ICEFlight is a major Tech Hub project we’re launching in The Netherlands. After a very successful start of the Tech Hub last year, we have now five projects up and running. In the years to come, we are planning for even more in collaboration with our partners, so we can shape the future of aviation.”
By the end of the project, the Dutch aerospace research framework and supply chain are expected to deliver two core innovations: a cryogenic cooling system and a cryogenic electrical network. These technologies are seen as essential for scaling hydrogen-based propulsion and improving the Netherlands’ global competitiveness in sustainable aerospace systems.
About GKN Aerospace
GKN Aerospace is a global engineering group specializing in aerostructures, engine components, and electric propulsion technologies for commercial, military, and spaceflight applications. The company operates more than 30 facilities across 12 countries and partners with major OEMs on sustainable aviation technologies, including hydrogen-powered and hybrid-electric flight platforms. For more information, please click here.
Source/Photo Credit: GKN Aerospace
(Editor’s Note: All trademarks mentioned in this article, including company names, product names, and logos, are the property of their respective owners. Use of these trademarks is for informational purposes only and does not imply any endorsement.)
(Editor’s Note: All trademarks mentioned in this article, including company names, product names, and logos, are the property of their respective owners. Use of these trademarks is for informational purposes only and does not imply any endorsement.)
A multilingual professional with over 25 years of specialized experience in B2B technical marketing, PR, business development, and data analytics, Molly brings uncommon, deeply focused expertise across the high-tech sectors served by the network. She also serves as President + Principal Consultant of Embassy Global, LLC, the boutique consultancy she founded in 2008. Since then, and under Molly's leadership, Embassy Global has helped more than 200 brands across the global high-tech ecosystem to grow and diversify.
Molly's authored work has been published over 1,000 times in leading B2B trade publications across 57 countries and 13 languages.
She holds dual degrees in Modern Language and Marketing from Canisius University and was recently accepted into the Harvard Business Analytics Program. She is also currently pursuing her PhD. You can connect with her on LinkedIn here.
- Elma Electronic Expands AS9100:D, ISO 9001 Certifications - May 30, 2025
- Anywaves Achieves First Commercial In-Orbit Reflectarray - May 27, 2025
- Aeva Technologies 4D LiDAR Selected for Airbus Optimate Project - May 23, 2025
