GE Aerospace advanced engine development is progressing after NASA awarded the company a Phase 2 contract to mature Hybrid Thermally Efficient Core (HyTEC) compact engine core technologies, aimed at fuel efficiency and emission reductions in future commercial aircraft engines.
The Phase 2 award builds on foundational work around high-pressure compressors, combustors, and turbine technologies, and expands to include testing with 100 percent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) combustion, part of long-term efforts to support net-zero aviation goals.
Contract and Program Overview
Phase 2 of NASA’s HyTEC Program supports GE Aerospace’s development of advanced engine core components designed to deliver:
- Greater fuel efficiency
- Lower CO₂ emissions
- Expanded compatibility with SAF fuels
These technologies aim to underpin next-generation commercial propulsion systems far beyond today’s conventional turbofans.
GE Aerospace is executing one of the industry’s broadest engine R&D roadmaps, including contributions to CFM International’s RISE (Revolutionary Innovation for Sustainable Engines) technology suite targeting >20 percent fuel burn reductions and CO₂ emissions cuts by the mid-2030s.
Topline Quotes
“We are grateful and proud to collaborate with NASA to invent the future of flight,” said Mohamed Ali, vice president of engineering at GE Aerospace. “With the HyTEC program, GE Aerospace looks to further advance aircraft engine core technologies beyond our current industry-leading propulsion systems.”
Industry and Sustainability Context
Advanced engine development is a cornerstone of decarbonization strategies in global aviation. Programs like HyTEC fit within the broader Sustainable Flight National Partnership, which seeks to align R&D with net-zero greenhouse gas goals by 2050.
Testing with 100 percent SAF combustion — now integrated into Phase 2 — reflects the industry’s push to validate engines that operate cleanly without blending constraints.
Cross-Sector Technology Synergy
While the HyTEC work targets civil engines, industry progress in adaptive cycle engines, such as GE’s XA102 DDR milestone for the U.S. Air Force’s NGAP program, illustrates a broader propulsion R&D ecosystem where advanced combustion, cooling, and materials innovations are shared across military and civil domains.
Implications for Airlines and OEMs
For carriers and airframe OEMs, more efficient core engine technologies could:
- Reduce fuel costs
- Expand operations with lower carbon intensity
- Improve lifecycle economics
However, bringing compact core technologies from demonstration to production remains a multi-year effort requiring further testing and certification.
What’s Next
- Core demonstrator tests later this decade under HyTEC Phase 2
- Integration opportunities with RISE engine architectures
- Expanded SAF combustion validation
- Potential technology crossover into hybrid electric propulsion architectures
Sources
- Aerospace Manufacturing & Design, GE Aerospace to develop next phase of advanced engine (Jan 8 2024) Aerospace Manufacturing and Design
- NASA phase contracts and compact core development (HyTEC context) CFM International
- CFM RISE sustainable engine goals ASD News
- GE Aerospace adaptive engine DDR and broader propulsion innovation GE Aerospace
