Radka Konderlová, Director General for Industrial Cooperation at the Czech Ministry of Defense & Armed Forces, said: “PBS Group is a unique company both in the Czech Republic and globally. Its cooperation with RTX, one of the largest companies in the defense industry, is not only proof of PBS’s capabilities, but also a testament to the strength of Czech industry as a whole. The project between PBS and Pratt & Whitney will significantly increase the competence and capacity of Czech industry, which is essential for ensuring security of supply in crisis situations.”
APUs are compact engines that provide electrical power, compressed air, and emergency functions to aircraft systems. The new unit is projected to deliver the highest power density on the market while being smaller and lighter than current systems, supporting applications across fighters, rotorcraft and business jets.
“Advanced APUs are essential for both defense and commercial aviation, delivering the reliable, efficient power needed to keep aircraft mission-ready on the ground and optimized for performance in the air,” said Jessica Villardi, vice president of Fighter and Mobility Programs at Pratt & Whitney. “This work with PBS underscores Pratt & Whitney’s commitment to our customers and our focus on developing next generation turbine technologies to support future industry needs.”
The next-generation APU is designed for rapid start-up and high-altitude operation, enabling new aircraft designs and supporting functions such as enhanced thermal management, electronic warfare systems and greater electrical power. PBS, which has produced APUs since the 1970s, is one of only four companies worldwide authorised to develop and certify civil APUs.
“There are only four companies in the world that are authorized to develop and certify civil APUs. PBS Velká Bíteš, a member of the PBS GROUP, is one of them – and that is why we are now joining forces with one of the most important players in the field to jointly develop a new generation of APUs. We are leveraging the best of our know-how and that of our collaborator to advance the technological capabilities of APUs for future civil and defense projects,” said Milan Macholán, CEO of PBS Velká Bíteš.
RTX has produced APUs for decades as part of its wider role as a supplier of gas turbine engines, while PBS brings more than 50 years of development and manufacturing experience in this field. The partnership is positioned to combine both companies’ expertise in advancing propulsion technologies for future aircraft.
