GE Aerospace’s $300M Investment in BETA Technologies: A Hybrid-Electric Propelled Partnership Into The Future

Cincinnati, September 4, 2025 – In a landmark move for the future of flight, GE Aerospace (NYSE: GE) and BETA Technologies, Inc. have entered into a strategic partnership backed by a $300 million equity investment (pending regulatory approval) to drive the development of hybrid-electric propulsion systems for the emerging Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) sector

Hybrid Turbogenerator: Marrying Proven Turbine Power with Electric Innovation

At the heart of this alliance is a co‑development project for a hybrid-electric turbogenerator. Combining BETA’s cutting-edge permanent-magnet electric generators with GE’s legacy in turbines, certification, and large-scale manufacturing, the system is intended for long-range VTOL aircraft, future BETA models, and other potential aviation platforms. By tapping into established platforms such as the GE CT7 and T700 engines, this hybrid solution promises notable improvements in range, speed, payload, and operational efficiency—outperforming comparable battery-only aircraft. These milestones lend critical credibility to the scalability of the new hybrid turbogenerator.

Meanwhile, BETA Technologies has logged real-world electric flight data via its ALIA aircraft, proven in varied climates across North America and Europe.

BETA Technologies

• Based in South Burlington, Vermont, with BETA’s structures engineering division located in Montreal, Quebec
• manufacturer of the ALIA eVTOL and eCTOL aircraft
• ALIA:
  • eVTOL and CTOL versions
  • 5 passengers
  • less than 1 hour charging

GE Aerospace

• Based in Evendale, Ohio
• NYSE: GE
• Largest engine manufacturer for widebody aircraft (57% of market share)
• co-founder of CFM (along with Safran)
  • the world’s largest commercial aircraft engine manufacturer
• manufacturer of the CT7, T700/T701, and T901 engines for helicopters
• performed a 2016 ground test of an electric motor-driven propeller
•  in 2022, performed world’s first test of a megawatt-class and multi-kilovolt (kV) hybrid electric propulsion system in altitude conditions up to 45,000

Why the Hybrid Approach Matters

• Battery limitations—weight, energy density, charging infrastructure—restrict the capabilities of purely electric VTOLs.
• By generating onboard electricity via turbine, hybrid systems offer longer range and greater payload, without needing to overhaul existing infrastructure

MV250 Autonomous Hybrid VTOL Aircraft

• Range: 250 nm w/2000 lbs. 1300+ nm ferry range
• Payload: 2,000 lbs
• Cabin Volume: 200 ft³
• Max Airspeed: 153 kias

MV250 Autonomous Hybrid VTOL Aircraft

• Range: 250 nm w/2000 lbs. 1300+ nm ferry range
• Payload: 2,000 lbs
• Cabin Volume: 200 ft³
• Max Airspeed: 153 kias

ALIA A250 (all electric)

• Range: 121 nm
• Payload: 1,125 lbs
• Cabin Volume: 200 ft³
• Max Airspeed: 153 kias

Putting into Context: Established Foundations & Technical Milestones

GE Aerospace brings to the table a history of groundbreaking hybrid-electric research, including a ground test of an electric motor-driven propeller in 2016, and a 2022 megawatt-class hybrid-electric propulsion test at simulated altitudes of up to 45,000 feet.

Strategic Investment and Board Influence

Left to right: Kyle Clark, BETA Technologies’ Founder and CEO; Larry Culp, GE CEO; and Chuck Davis, Stone Point Capital chairman and co-chief executive officer. 

GE Aerospace will make a $300 million equity investment in BETA Technologies, which obviously is subject to regulatory approval. Beyond financial support, GE Aerospace gains the right to appoint a director to BETA’s board, signaling a deep and collaborative alignment with the electric aviation trailblazer

“Partnering with BETA will expand and accelerate hybrid electric technology development, meeting our customers’ needs for differentiated capabilities that provide more range, payload, and optimized engine and aircraft performance.” – GE Aerospace Chairman and CEO H. Lawrence Culp, Jr.

“This partnership brings together two teams deeply committed to and guided by aerospace engineering excellence and building the future of flight. We believe the industry is on the precipice of a real step change, and we’re humbled that GE Aerospace has the confidence in our team, technology, and iterative approach to innovation to partner with us. We look forward to partnering to co-develop products that will unlock the potential of hybrid electric flight, and to do it with the rigor, reliability, and safety that aviation demands.” – Kyle Clark, BETA Technologies’ Founder and CEO

GE’s CT7 Engine family

GE CT7-7 engine

• 1,500–3,000 shp (1,100–2,200 kW) class
• Models:
  • CT7-2
    • 2,000 shp class
  • CT7-8
    • 2,500 to 3,000 shp class
  • CT7-9
    • 1900 shp class,
  • T700-701C/D
    • Used in Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk and Boeing AH-64E Apache

“With more than 100 million flight hours, GE’s CT7/T700 family of turboshaft and turboprop engines operates across the globe in every environment your aircraft travels.”

– General Electric

All of GE’s CT7/T700 engines are certified to run on Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs), which will provide more renewable options for operators as SAF availability and prices will become for feasible in the future.

GE T901 Engine

According to GE, the T901 engine provides 50% more power, 25% improved fuel economy, and reduced life cycle costs over the CT7 engines. This is achieved using a more simplified design with fewer overall parts, in conjunction with using reliable technology that GE has developed over years (47 years to be exact) working on engines that power AH-64 and UH-60 helicopters. It would be logical that the hybrid-electric engines GE will develop in collaboration with BETA Technologies will be some derivative on the T901 engine.

“GE Aerospace has developed the T901 over 45 years of AH-64 and UH-60 operational experience to pioneer the future of rotorcraft aviation“

– GE Aerospace (c. 2023)

How Is It Done?

Ceramics Matrix Composites (CMCs)

The higher operating temperature tolerance thanks to ceramics matrix composites (CMCs) results in more power and increased fuel economy(decreased fuel consumption), and less cooling required.

Additive Manufacturing

By implementing additive manufacturing, many parts with intricate designs can be manufactured as a single component, and with less machining than traditionally manufactured parts which due to limitations in machining, require the combination of several sub-components in order to achieve a part with a complex design. The ability of creating a single complex part through additive manufacturing allows parts to be typically lighter in weight, since additional material required for strengthening and reinforcing the areas for joining subcomponents would be eliminated.

Sand Tolerance Technologies

Improvement of techniques to prevent erosion, advanced Inlet Particle Separator (IPS), advanced in compressor durability, and informed cooling hole sizing help increase the tolerance to sand and other environmental debris found in the combat zone.

Advanced Cooling Technology

In a similar vein to the Ceramics Matrix Composites (CMCs) which increase the operating tolerance to heat, GE’s advanced cooling technology provides the engine the ability to run with a reduced amount of cooling air to maintain the same engine temperature. This results in lower metal temperatures for a given amount of cooling air, which therefore requires less cooling air, improved fuel economy, lower emissions, less engine damage due to heat, and even better acceleration.

Powering the Future of Warfare

The battery storage on current all-electric BETA Technologies eVTOLs can be utilized by military personnel to electronics such drones, power tools, and other equipment necessary for the modern battlefield. A hybrid-electric eVTOL such as BETA Technologies” MV250 (autonomous) and other future piloted versions would be able to recharge en-route and have increase power capabilities for charging such equipment.

Competitive Advantage & Market Outlook

Several AAM developers continue to pursue fully electric models; however, the GE–BETA hybrid strategy provides a practical bridge solution that mitigates current limitations of battery-only designs, particularly for operations demanding endurance and payload in an operational range past 150 miles.

BETA’s evolving aircraft lineup—ALIA CX300 (CTOL), Alia A250 (VTOL), and MV250 Autonomous Hybrid VTOL Aircraft—already enjoy customer interest and infrastructure commitments. Bristow and Avinor are conducting practical cargo route simulations between cities like Stavanger and Bergen using BETA Technologies ALIA cTOLs, offering real-world data that reinforces operational credibility.

What This Means for AAM and Beyond

This partnership could dramatically accelerate the timeline for operational hybrid-electric AAM platforms:

• A robust certification pathway, leveraging GE’s expertise and BETA’s test data, could put products in the field by 2026–2027
• Hybrid propulsion may emerge as the most viable near- to mid-term solution on the path to decarbonized air mobility, potentially paving the way for more sustainable aviation while battery tech matures

Final Take

GE Aerospace’s multi‑hundred‑million‑dollar investment in BETA Technologies marks a significant strategic shift, aligning industry heavyweight turbine expertise with agile electric innovation. The resulting hybrid-electric turbogenerator stands poised to overcome the limits of current electric aircraft, supporting a scalable, high-performance solution for both civilian and defense-sector aviation. As regulators clear the path and certifications become imminent, this partnership may very well lay the groundwork for the next era of sustainable flight.

More Info:

Official press release (GE’s website): click here

Official press release: (BETA Technologies’ website): click here

Bristow Group’s new ALIA CX300 from BETA Technologies flies in Norway: click here

BETA Technologies ALIA electric CTOL aircraft welcomed at Toronto’s Billy Bishop Airport: click here

T700Turboshaft engine: click here

CT7 Engine family: click here

T901 Engine: click here

GE Aerospace T901 Engines Accepted by U.S. Army for UH-60 Black Hawk Flight Testing: click here

GE Aerospace T901 Engine Powers Black Hawk for First Time in Successful Ground Runs: click here