Priority directions for the development of aviation electrical engineering: a comparative analysis of R&D funding from leading countries

Abstract

An analysis of the development programs for aviation electrical engineering in the USA, the European Union, China and Russia was carried out in order to identify key technological trends, priority areas of scientific research and financing strategies. Data from official reports by NASA, the European Commission, and Chinese and Russian government programs was used. It was found that in the United States, key efforts are aimed at creating electric machines with a specific power of over 12 kW/kg, including engines on high-temperature superconductors (16 kW/kg, 99% efficiency). The European Union is betting on abandoning rare-earth magnets, additive technologies, and creating iron-free structures, achieving values of efficiency up to 99% and a specific power of up to 11 kW/kg. China is a leader in the mass production of electric motors, investing in digitalization, eVTOL, and hybrid aircraft. In Russia, developments are carried out within the framework of an import substitution strategy with an emphasis on the use of high-temperature superconductors and the creation of hybrid power plants.