Swiss electric aviation company H55 has delivered certification-grade propulsion battery modules to Pratt & Whitney Canada for integration into the RTX Hybrid-Electric Flight Demonstrator programme, marking a significant milestone in the development and commercialisation of hybrid-electric aviation technologies.

The delivery supports ongoing aircraft integration and flight-test activities and demonstrates H55’s capability to manufacture production-conforming propulsion systems within a regulator-approved environment. According to the company, this achievement represents an important step in the transition from technology development to industrial-scale execution.

Supporting certification and commercial readiness

H55 stated that the programme highlights growing industry demand for suppliers capable of delivering not only technological innovation but also certification-ready manufacturing systems, safety architecture and operational reliability.

The company said the successful delivery of production-conforming battery modules into an active aerospace flight-test programme demonstrates the maturity of its technology, manufacturing processes and certification framework.

Sébastien Demont, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of H55, said the aerospace industry increasingly requires certification-grade systems that can support future commercial applications.

“Aircraft manufacturers today require more than battery technology,” said Demont.

“They require certification-grade safety architecture, industrialised manufacturing, operational reliability and scalable systems integration. Delivering production-conforming modules into the RTX Hybrid-Electric Flight Demonstrator validates H55’s ability to meet those requirements at an industrial scale.”

Building on flight experience

H55’s battery architecture has been developed specifically for electric and hybrid-electric propulsion applications. The company reports accumulating more than 2,000 flight hours across multiple aircraft programmes without any battery-related incidents.

The company also noted that it was the first in the industry to complete regulator-required propulsion battery certification testing, providing a foundation for supplying battery systems to active aerospace programmes.

Hybrid-electric technology development

Pratt & Whitney Canada said hybrid-electric propulsion remains an important pathway toward improving aircraft fuel efficiency and operational performance across a range of future platforms.

Jean Thomassin, Executive Director of New Product and Service Introduction at Pratt & Whitney Canada, said certification-grade battery systems are essential to advancing hybrid-electric flight demonstrations.

“Hybrid-electric propulsion represents an important pathway for improving fuel efficiency and performance for a wide range of future aircraft platforms,” said Thomassin.

“H55’s ability to deliver aviation-grade battery systems within a rigorous certification and production framework plays a crucial role in demonstrating hybrid-electric technology in flight.”

Focus on commercial deployment

According to H55, the milestone reinforces its position as a supplier of certification-grade energy storage solutions for future commercial aerospace programmes.

The company identified its certification-grade safety architecture, regulator-approved manufacturing capability, validated flight operations experience and scalable propulsion system integration as key elements supporting future deployment across hybrid-electric aviation, defence applications, unmanned aerial systems and next-generation aerospace platforms.