Noise reduction breakthroughs for new ultraefficient aircraft

The EU initiative Noise Reduction Breakthroughs for new Ultraefficient Aircraft supports the development and validation of innovative aeroacoustic methods to significantly reduce aircraft noise in large commercial aircraft with a grant of up to €2,500,000 per project. Eligible applicants are consortia consisting of companies, educational institutions, non-profit, and public organizations that include at least three independent partners from different EU Member States or associated countries. Funding covers research & innovation at a 100% funding rate and includes personnel, material, travel, and subcontracting costs. Ineligible costs are retroactive expenses, debt settlement, or real estate acquisitions. The two-stage submission process ends on 14/04/2027 and 07/10/2027 (5 p.m. Brussels time). In the first stage, applications are pre-selected based on the clarity and innovativeness of objectives as well as the credibility of the expected impacts; the second stage additionally evaluates implementation quality and risk management. The European Commission is expected to award two grants and aims to create synergies with existing Horizon Europe projects.

The focus lies on researching advanced numerical and experimental methods, including for open fan architectures and ultra-high bypass ratios. Projects should systematically investigate noise sources in the aircraft fuselage and engine, integrate psychoacoustic annoyance models, and test novel metamaterials or structures for sound absorption. Besides precise noise predictions, standardized validation processes based on interdisciplinary data and optimized aeroacoustic simulations are planned. The results are intended to feed into regulatory processes and standardization as best practices to promote low-noise aircraft concepts already in the early design phase. The goal is a technological leap toward ultra-efficient, quiet wide-body aircraft that make air traffic more environmentally friendly and improve acceptance in affected regions.