> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.adriadefense.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # PBS, Pratt & Whitney to Develop Next-Generation Aircraft APU - URL: https://www.adriadefense.com/pbs-pratt-whitney-to-develop-next-generation-aircraft-apu/ - Published: 2025-09-17T22:16:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-08-20T22:18:48.000Z - Description: Czech PBS GROUP and Pratt & Whitney will jointly develop a smaller, lighter next-generation APU for military and commercial aircraft. - Author: AdriaDefense Desk - Tags: Czech Republic, United States, Aerospace, PBS Group, Defense Industry Czech aerospace manufacturer PBS GROUP and Pratt & Whitney, an RTX business, signed an agreement on September 18, 2025, to jointly develop a next-generation auxiliary power unit for military and commercial aircraft. The new APU is intended for platforms including fighter aircraft, rotorcraft and business jets, with the companies targeting a smaller and lighter design with increased power density. The agreement gives PBS GROUP a role in a future aircraft power system alongside one of the largest aerospace manufacturers in the United States. The Industrial Cooperation Section of the Czech Ministry of Defense supported the establishment of the partnership as part of efforts to connect Czech defense companies with international manufacturers. ## New APU targets fighter aircraft and rotorcraft Auxiliary power units are compact gas turbine systems that provide power independently of an aircraft's main engines. They can support main engine starting while supplying electrical power and compressed air for avionics, cooling and other onboard systems. The PBS GROUP and Pratt & Whitney design will target both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. The companies specifically identified fighters, rotorcraft and business jets among its intended applications but did not disclose a launch customer or identify a specific aircraft program. The partners also did not disclose the APU's planned power output, dimensions, weight, development cost or expected entry-into-service date. According to RTX, the unit is being designed to be significantly smaller and lighter than conventional APUs in the same power class. The design is also intended to support rapid starts and operation at high altitude. These characteristics could support aircraft with growing electrical and thermal demands. RTX identified additional electrical power, improved thermal management and support for electronic warfare technologies among the potential military applications enabled by the design. ## PBS brings more than 50 years of APU experience Although PBS GROUP has recently expanded its profile through its small turbojet engines, the Czech company has worked on auxiliary power units since the 1970s. PBS Velká Bíteš has accumulated more than 50 years of experience covering APU development, engineering, manufacturing, aircraft installation, servicing and overhaul. The company is also one of four manufacturers worldwide authorized to develop and certify civil APUs, according to PBS GROUP and RTX. Pratt & Whitney brings a much larger installed aerospace footprint to the partnership. The company designs and supports aircraft engines and APUs across military and commercial aviation, while its existing APU portfolio includes systems for aircraft such as the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Airbus A380. The cooperation therefore combines PBS's specialized APU engineering base in the Czech Republic with Pratt & Whitney's experience supplying and supporting aircraft power systems at global scale. ## Czech Ministry of Defense backed the industrial partnership The Czech Ministry of Defense played a direct role in facilitating the cooperation through its Industrial Cooperation Section. The ministry views the project as a way to expand Czech industrial capabilities and strengthen security of supply. The agreement also reflects a wider Czech policy of connecting domestic defense manufacturers with major international suppliers rather than limiting industrial cooperation to final assembly or component production. For PBS, participation in development of a new APU creates an opportunity to move further into international military and commercial aircraft supply chains. Unlike a straightforward component production agreement, the partnership covers joint development of a new system. That distinction is relevant for the Czech aerospace sector because design and certification capabilities can create longer-term industrial value through production, upgrades, maintenance and future derivatives. ## Higher electrical demand is reshaping aircraft power requirements The military relevance of the project extends beyond starting an aircraft's main engines. Modern combat aircraft increasingly depend on electrical power for sensors, avionics, communications, cooling and electronic warfare equipment. Pratt & Whitney and PBS specifically identified enhanced thermal management and electronic warfare technologies among the systems that could benefit from the new APU. Reducing APU size and weight while increasing available power could give aircraft designers more flexibility when integrating these systems. However, the companies have not yet published performance data that would allow direct comparison with existing APUs. The project also comes as PBS GROUP expands its aerospace manufacturing footprint beyond the Czech Republic and increases production of small turbine engines for international customers. The next major milestones will be the disclosure of technical specifications, testing progress and potential aircraft applications. Neither PBS GROUP nor Pratt & Whitney announced a schedule for prototype testing, certification or serial production when they disclosed the agreement. ## PBS and Pratt & Whitney APU: key questions ### What are PBS GROUP and Pratt & Whitney developing? The companies are jointly developing a next-generation auxiliary power unit for military and commercial aircraft. The system is intended to be smaller and lighter than traditional APUs in its power class while providing increased power density. ### Which aircraft could use the new APU? PBS GROUP and Pratt & Whitney identified fighter aircraft, rotorcraft and business jets as potential applications. They have not announced a specific aircraft platform or launch customer. ### Why is the new APU relevant to military aircraft? In addition to engine starting, an APU can provide electrical power and compressed air for aircraft systems. The partners say their next-generation design could support greater electrical demand, thermal management and electronic warfare equipment. ### What role does the Czech Republic have in the program? PBS GROUP's PBS Velká Bíteš operation brings more than 50 years of APU experience to the program. The Czech Ministry of Defense's Industrial Cooperation Section supported the establishment of the partnership with Pratt & Whitney.