Airbus MTU Aero Engines Partner for Hydrogen Fuel Cell Based Aero Engines for Sustainable Aviation: Paris, France – In a significant move towards sustainable aviation, aerospace giant Airbus and engine specialist MTU Aero Engines have formalized a strategic partnership, signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly advance hydrogen fuel cell propulsion technology. This collaboration, announced today at the 55th Paris Airshow, is poised to be a critical step in the ongoing efforts to decarbonize the aviation industry.
The MoU was officially sealed by Bruno Fichefeux, Airbus’ Head of Future Programmes, and Dr. Stefan Weber, MTU’s Senior Vice President of Engineering and Technology. The alliance brings together Airbus’ leadership in aircraft manufacturing and its pioneering ZEROe project dedicated to hydrogen-powered aviation, with MTU Aero Engines‘ recognized expertise in commercial and military aircraft engines, particularly through its “Flying Fuel Cell” concept.
This partnership follows Airbus’ recent decision to concentrate its research efforts on a fully electric, hydrogen-powered aircraft utilizing a fuel cell engine, a domain where MTU has already established considerable proficiency.
A Three-Step Roadmap to a Greener Future
The agreement outlines a structured three-step roadmap designed to develop a hydrogen-powered fuel cell engine suitable for the demands of the commercial aviation market:
Technological Building Block Maturation: The initial phase will focus on maturing the fundamental technological components essential for the engine. This will be achieved through collaborative research projects, including initiatives like Clean Aviation, which aim to push the boundaries of sustainable aerospace technologies.
R&T Roadmap Alignment: The second step involves harmonizing the Research & Technology (R&T) roadmaps of both partners concerning hydrogen technologies. This alignment is crucial for ensuring a coherent and efficient development pathway.
Fuel Cell Engine Development Consideration: The outcomes and insights from these joint explorations in the first two steps will then pave the way for considering a third step: the actual development of a fuel cell engine specifically for a hydrogen-powered aircraft.
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MTU-JetBlue Airways SAF Engine.
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Bruno Fichefeux, Head of Future Programmes at Airbus, expressed optimism about the collaboration: “Our focus on fully electric fuel cell propulsion technology for future hydrogen-powered aircraft underscores our confidence and progress in this domain. Collaborating with MTU, a leader in engine manufacturing and innovation, is a perfect complement to our own advancements. This partnership will allow us to pool our collective knowledge, accelerate the maturation of critical technologies, and ultimately deliver a revolutionary hydrogen-powered propulsion system for future commercial aircraft. Together, we are not just imagining a sustainable future of flight, we are actively pioneering it.”
Dr. Stefan Weber, Senior Vice President of Engineering and Technology at MTU Aero Engines, highlighted the shared vision: “As a globally recognised engine expert, we are driven by the vision of a revolutionary propulsion concept that allows virtually emissions-free flight. Today, we are at the centre of a wide-ranging eco-system of partners aiming to achieve the complete electrification of the powertrain by using fuel cell technology. Partnering with Airbus opens up the possibility to jointly address both technology maturity and platform integration aspects. Our joint efforts in the years to come are the first step in paving the way for a potential product development in the future.”
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MTU Aero Engines’ Flying Fuel Cell Technology.
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Hydrogen: A Transformative Fuel for Aviation
Hydrogen is increasingly recognized for its potential to play a pivotal role in the long-term decarbonization of aviation. Experts believe its impact could be as transformative for air transport as electric vehicles have been for the automotive sector.
Airbus’ ambition is to bring a hydrogen-powered commercial aircraft to market. The company’s ZEROe project, launched in 2020, has been exploring the feasibility of two primary hydrogen propulsion technologies: hydrogen combustion and hydrogen fuel cells. In March 2025, during the Airbus Summit, the company announced its decision to focus intensified efforts on a fuel cell fully-electric propulsion system. This strategic shift was informed by positive results from fuel cell prototype and powertrain testing, as well as ongoing research into complementary technologies such as cryogenics.
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Beyond the core aircraft technologies, Airbus is also committed to fostering the emergence of a broader hydrogen aviation economy and the necessary associated regulatory framework, recognizing these as crucial enablers for the widespread adoption of hydrogen-powered flight.
MTU Aero Engines has also been making consistent progress in fuel cell-related propulsion systems. Recent milestones include finalizing the design for its “Flying Fuel Cell,” initiating stack manufacturing for its demonstrator, successfully testing the eMoSys electric motor, and commissioning its first test cell in Munich. Furthermore, MTU Aero Engines is leading the Clean Aviation technology project HEROPS (Hydrogen-Electric Zero Emission Propulsion System), launched in early 2024, which aims to develop innovative technologies for climate-neutral, hydrogen-powered electric powertrains based on its Flying Fuel Cell concept.
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About MTU Aero Engines
MTU Aero Engines AG is a globally recognized expert in commercial and military aircraft engines. Its high-tech expertise spans from development and production of components to final assembly of complete engines and maintenance of aircraft engines and stationary gas turbines. In the financial year 2024, the DAX-listed company reported revenues of 7.5 billion euros. MTU technology provides reliable thrust in one in three commercial aircraft worldwide, and the company maintains approximately 1,500 engines and industrial gas turbines annually. With over 13,000 employees from more than 80 nations across 19 locations on five continents, MTU contributes significantly to safe global mobility.
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