FutureFlight
Rolls-Royce Teams with German State and Federal Authorities on Hybrid Propulsion
The partners will establish development, testing, and production facilities for hybrid-electric propulsion systems
Rolls Vertical
Rolls-Royce is developing the electric propulsion system for Vertical Aerospace's VA-X4 eVTOL aircraft. (Image: Rolls-Royce)

Rolls-Royce has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Brandenburg state Ministry for Economic Affairs, Labor, and Energy (MWAE) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) to advance the research and development of hybrid-electric propulsion systems for the next generation of aircraft. With funding from Germany’s Structural Strengthening Act, the federal government's aeronautics research program, and other state funds, the partners will establish development, testing, and production facilities for hybrid-electric propulsion systems at Dahlewitz near Berline and in the Lusatia region.

As part of the new program, Rolls-Royce Deutschland opened a facility in Cottbus this month and will expand its research and development capabilities in Dahlewitz. The UK-based aircraft engines maker's German subsidiary will involve existing and new partners from the Lusatia region and continue to search for new industrial partners. The Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU), the German Aerospace Centre (DLR), and Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft are current scientific partners of the project.