PARIS—GKN Aerospace is focusing on cryogenic cooling system and electrical network technology for future hydrogen-fueled aircraft under the Airbus-led ICEFlight (Innovative Cryogenic Electric Flight) research project, having recently elected to draw down its broader hydrogen-related development efforts covering motors, power-generation systems and liquid hydrogen storage.
The company’s contribution to ICEFlight, an initiative led by Airbus’ UpNext innovation arm and the company’s Tech Hub in the Netherlands, comes as part of GKN’s strategic decision to concentrate on power distribution, cooling and superconductivity solutions, where GKN says it is best placed to leverage commercial advantage.
Announcing its move to double down on cryogenic systems at the Paris Air Show, GKN says the ICEFlight initiative also aims to establish testing facilities in the Netherlands, led by the Royal NLR, to ensure the reliability and validate the performance of the new cryogenic systems. “These facilities will help to position the Netherlands as a leader in cryogenic technology, particularly in the development and testing of cooling systems that enable superconductivity and hyperconductivity in aviation, with opportunities to spin off to other sectors,” the company says.
GKN opted to rationalize its hydrogen-related technology plans in the wake of Airbus’ February 2025 decision to extend the development timescale for a hydrogen-powered airliner. GKN has since ended its involvement in the Marshall Aerospace-led HyFIVE hydrogen fuel system consortium; opted to conclude its own H2Gear hydrogen-electric propulsion project at the end of its initial five-year term; and to drop some parts of the GKN-led H2FlyGHT project, originally announced in 2024.
As well as the ICEFlight technology work, GKN’s revised H2 portfolio now includes the final 1-megawatt motor demonstrator under the H2Gear program and a streamlined version of the follow-on H2FlyGHT program which was launched in 2024 targeting the development of a 2-megawatt cryogenic hydrogen-electric propulsion system.
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