Airbus and MTU Aero Engines have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to progress together on hydrogen fuel cell propulsion. The partnership draws on the combined expertise of Airbus, a leading aircraft manufacturer and pioneer in hydrogen-powered aviation through its ZEROe project, and MTU Aero Engines, a globally recognized engine expert for commercial and military aircraft.

It follows Airbus’ decision to focus its research effort on a fully electric, hydrogen-powered aircraft with a fuel cell engine, a field in which MTU has developed recognized expertise through its Flying Fuel Cell concept.

The agreement sets out a three-step roadmap for the development of a hydrogen-powered fuel cell engine suitable for the commercial aviation market. The first step is to mature the technological building blocks essential for the engine through joint research projects, such as Clean Aviation. The second step will involve aligning the two partners' R&T roadmaps on hydrogen technologies. The result of these joint explorations then would allow the consideration of a third step towards the development of a fuel-cell engine for a hydrogen-powered aircraft.

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Our focus on fully electric fuel cell propulsion technology for future hydrogen-powered aircraft underscores our confidence and progress in this domain.

—Bruno Fichefeux, Head of future programs at Airbus

Airbus launched the ZEROe project in 2020 to explore the feasibility of two primary hydrogen propulsion technologies: hydrogen combustion and hydrogen fuel cells. In March 2025, during the Airbus Summit, Airbus announced that it was focusing efforts on a fuel cell fully-electric propulsion system. The results of the fuel cell prototype and powertrain testing, as well as research into complementary technology such as cryogenics, supported the viability of this technology.

Beyond the aircraft technologies, Airbus will continue to foster the emergence of a hydrogen aviation economy and the associated regulatory framework, which are also critical enablers to the advent of hydrogen-powered flight at scale.

MTU Aero Engines has been making continuous good progress with regard to a fuel cell-related revolutionary propulsion system. It has reached some important milestones over the past months: The design for the company’s Flying Fuel Cell has been nailed down, stack manufacturing for the demonstrator has started, the eMoSys electric motor was successfully tested for the first time, and the first test cell went into operation in Munich.

Beyond this, MTU Aero Engines is leading the Clean Aviation technology project HEROPS (Hydrogen-Electric Zero Emission Propulsion System). Launched in early 2024, HEROPS aims to develop innovative technologies for a climate-neutral, hydrogen-powered electric powertrain based on MTU’s Flying Fuel Cell.