Airbus UpNext, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Airbus, has launched a technological demonstrator named Cryoprop to accelerate the development and integration of superconducting technologies in electric propulsion systems for future hydrogen-powered aircraft. This initiative represents a significant step forward in Airbus’s commitment to sustainable aviation and cutting-edge technological advancements.
Cryoprop aims to mature a two-megawatt-class superconducting electric propulsion system that will be cooled by liquid hydrogen via a helium recirculation loop. This advanced system is being developed by Airbus teams located in Toulouse, France, and Ottobrunn, Germany. The integration of superconducting technologies is expected to bring substantial benefits to the electric propulsion systems, particularly in terms of efficiency, weight reduction, and fuel savings.