Rolls-Royce Leads UNIFIED Consortium to Test UltraFan Aviation Technology

The European Union’s (EU) Clean Aviation program nominated Rolls-Royce to lead a project regarding decarbonized aviation—one of 12 under the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking (CAJU) with approximately €945 million in funding. The company will lead the UNIFIED consortium, which features industrial, academic, and research partners across France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

Once grant preparation is successfully completed, the project will execute ground testing for an UltraFan technology demonstrator in the short-to-medium range thrust class. The technology is intended for future narrowbody aircraft, with the demonstrator testing making steps toward the future flight tests of UltraFan architecture.

“We are delighted that Rolls-Royce has been selected to lead the UNIFIED project,” said Alan Newby, Director of Research and Technology, Rolls-Royce. “This recognition underscores once again our commitment to reshape aviation and further reduce its environmental impact. UltraFan provides ultra-efficient and credible technology for future narrowbody applications and within UNIFIED we will demonstrate that we have the relevant, next-generation capability ready to deliver performance in thrust, fuel burn, noise, emissions, and durability.”

UltraFan technology during test | Image Credit: Rolls-Royce

The CAJU program includes new aircraft concepts and next-generation propulsion technologies and is the EU’s leading research program in transforming aviation toward sustainability and climate neutrality.

Rolls-Royce in GCAP

In early September 2025, Rolls-Royce, Avio Aero, and IHI expanded their international partnership by signing a new collaboration agreement, allowing them to engage with the Edgewing joint venture (BAE Systems, Leonardo, and JAIEC) for the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP). Through these collaborations, the partners aim to accelerate the development of power and propulsion systems for next-generation fighter aircraft.

The signing marks a transition from domestic contracting to fully integrated international partnership, allowing for the detailed design and development of GCAP’s new fighter engine. It also builds on the successful progress of the centerline engine demonstrator, which leverages advanced combat air-propulsion technology to meet the program’s first flight timeline.

Currently, the international partners are progressing on the engine demonstrator, technologies for additive manufacturing, cooling systems, high-pressure compressor design, and more. Their engineering teams performed several trilateral reviews to approve the engine demonstrator design, which follows the completed joint design iterations and hardware procurement.

Typhoon EJ200

In May 2025, the U.K. Ministry of Defense’s (MOD) Defense Equipment and Support division granted Rolls-Royce a five-year maintenance, service, and support contract for the EJ200 aero engine that powers the Royal Air Force’s Typhoon combat aircraft fleet: The Typhoon Engine Support Solution (TESS) allows Rolls-Royce to prolong maintenance and repair operations on 130 EJ200 engines.

The MOD’s TESS award will be executed at Rolls-Royce’s U.K. Defense headquarters in Bristol, which leads the research, development, and manufacture of the United Kingdom’s next-generation military power and propulsion technologies. TESS will also establish critical skills for the Royal Air Force, allowing it to deliver rapid air capabilities and fulfill future initiatives, such as the GCAP.