TCS and Rolls-Royce Demonstrate 100% Hydrogen-Powered Aero Gas Turbine Across Full Flight Cycle

Rolls-Royce and Tata Consultancy Services completed a four-year programme demonstrating a modern aero gas turbine running on 100% hydrogen fuel across a full simulated flight cycle.

Original report
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Industry impact

The milestone advances hydrogen combustion, fuel-system and control technologies that could eventually support zero in-flight CO2 aircraft propulsion at scale.

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Rolls-Royce have operated a modern aero gas turbine across a fully simulated flight cycle using 100% hydrogen fuel, an achievement the companies describe as an industry first. The demonstration, the culmination of a four-year programme, saw a modified engine complete take-off, cruise, and landing entirely on hydrogen, validating combustion, fuel systems, and engine control technologies.

The programme was first announced by Rolls-Royce and [easyJet](/entities/17120ed6065e5e3ca52557917ce29fb9) in 2022, with TCS joining as engineering partner in 2024 to contribute expertise in fuel system and engine controls integration, hydrogen combustion analysis, test preparation, validation, data analytics, risk management, and detailed design. easyJet, NASA, and the UK Health and Safety Executive were also involved.

Adam Newman, Chief Engineer of the Hydrogen Demonstrator Programme at Rolls-Royce, said the tests yielded insights into how 100% hydrogen behaves in a modern aero gas turbine across a full flight cycle, supporting future propulsion innovations including the UltraFan engine. Anupam Singhal, President of Manufacturing at TCS, said the achievement demonstrated the viability of hydrogen and the industry's readiness to translate ambition into execution. Aviation accounts for approximately 2–3% of global CO2 emissions, and TCS said it will continue working with Rolls-Royce to advance hydrogen-powered aviation technologies.