Dust Ingestion Testing Marks Key Milestone in CFM RISE Engine Development Programme.
CFM International’s Engine.
CINCINNATI, October 28, 2025 — CFM International, the leading aircraft engine manufacturer, has announced the commencement of dust ingestion testing on its next-generation high-pressure turbine (HPT) airfoils as part of its Revolutionary Innovation for Sustainable Engines (RISE) programme. This critical phase in the programme aims to simulate the extreme operating conditions that future engines will face, ensuring that the technologies under development meet rigorous durability standards.
The dust ingestion tests, which began earlier this month, are designed to evaluate how the advanced HPT airfoils hold up to real-world environments, particularly in regions with harsh flying conditions. This is a crucial step in the RISE programme, which prioritizes not only efficiency but also long-term durability — two key factors that are vital for the engines of tomorrow.
Testing for the Real World
The dust ingestion testing involves a proprietary blend of sand and other particles, created by GE Aerospace, one of CFM’s parent companies. The testing is conducted using a specialized test rig that injects dust into the engine over thousands of cycles, simulating the various stages of a flight: takeoff, climb, cruise, and landing. This method provides valuable data on how the components of the engine, particularly the HPT airfoils, will perform under severe operating conditions across the globe.
Arjan Hegeman, Vice President for the Future of Flight at GE Aerospace, explained the dual focus of the RISE programme, saying, “With the RISE technology demonstration programme, we’re pursuing durability and efficiency improvements with equal focus. This incorporates lessons from the flying fleet today to inform our future engine products by testing early and often.”
The comprehensive testing protocol underscores CFM’s commitment to optimizing the performance of its engines for a wide range of operating environments, from arid desert regions to icy, high-altitude locations. The results of these tests will be critical to refining the engine core for the final demonstrator expected later this decade.
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Pioneering Compact Engine Core Development
At the heart of the RISE programme is the development of a compact engine core that integrates next-generation technologies in high-pressure compressors, HPTs, and combustor systems. The core has already reached an important milestone, with its Conceptual Design Review successfully completed. The compact engine core is a fundamental component of CFM’s ambitious plans to revolutionize the aviation industry with cleaner, more efficient engines.
CFM’s RISE programme is a technology demonstration initiative and is not intended to result in a commercially available product in the immediate future. However, the programme is seen as a crucial step toward achieving major advancements in sustainable aviation technology. In 2025, more than 3,000 endurance cycles of advanced HPT airfoils were completed, further demonstrating the programme’s commitment to pushing the limits of durability and performance.
Previous tests of the HPT blades and nozzles have focused on validating key aspects of engine functionality, such as thermal stability, mechanical strength, and overall system performance. These early results show promising advancements in the development of the next generation of aviation engines.
A Comprehensive Technology Demonstrator
Unveiled in 2021, the CFM RISE programme is one of the aviation industry’s most ambitious and comprehensive technology demonstration initiatives. With over 350 tests completed to date, the programme has explored a wide range of innovative engine architectures, including Open Fan designs, high-speed turbines and compressors, hybrid-electric systems, and the compact engine core.
The RISE programme’s primary goals include achieving over 20% better fuel burn efficiency compared to commercial engines currently in service. This efficiency gain is part of CFM’s larger commitment to reducing the environmental impact of air travel by developing more sustainable, high-performance engines. Alongside sustainability, safety and durability remain at the forefront of the programme’s priorities.
Preparing for Flight Tests
As the RISE programme continues to mature, CFM is making strides toward ground and flight tests, expected within this decade. The company is actively collaborating with industry partners to integrate these cutting-edge technologies into aircraft and engine systems. With its focus on next-generation engine solutions, the RISE programme represents a key step in transforming the aviation sector, helping to meet the growing demand for sustainable air travel in the coming decades.
The dust ingestion testing is just one of many milestones on CFM’s roadmap for revolutionizing aviation propulsion systems, and the company is hopeful that the innovations developed under the RISE programme will set the stage for the next generation of environmentally friendly, high-performance engines.
CFM’s dust ingestion testing is a crucial milestone in the ongoing development of the RISE programme, which seeks to bring about groundbreaking advances in engine technology. By combining durability testing with efficiency improvements, CFM is positioning itself at the forefront of sustainable aviation, working towards a future where next-generation engines can withstand the toughest conditions while delivering greater fuel efficiency. With the success of the current tests and future flight demonstrations on the horizon, the RISE programme is paving the way for a new era of aviation technology.
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