CFM International (the GE Aerospace–Safran joint venture) is giving more structured attention to a second, more conventional “advanced ducted” engine architecture as a potential fallback to its headline RISE open-fan concept, according to industry sources.
RISE has been positioned as CFM’s best shot at a step-change in efficiency: the open-fan (open-rotor) layout removes the traditional nacelle around the fan. It is being promoted as capable of achieving around 20% improvements in fuel and emissions compared to today’s engines. But the industry remains split on the practical trade-space, especially around integration, noise/certification pathways, and long-term durability/maintenance economics. That uncertainty is driving classic risk-management behavior: keeping an alternative architecture warm while technology matures.
Reuters reported the backup work surfaced via a Safran job description referencing an internal code name, “Advanced Ducted-Large (ADL),” pointing to a ducted-fan configuration closer in overall form to current turbofans (fan contained within a casing) and therefore potentially easier to certify and integrate, albeit typically with less dramatic efficiency upside than an open fan.
Publicly, GE has continued to emphasize its commitment to the open-fan path. CEO Larry Culp has reiterated that GE is “all-in” on Open Fan, while also maintaining the long-standing line that CFM can deliver whatever architecture airframers ultimately select for next-generation single-aisle aircraft expected around the late-2030s/2040 timeframe.
Images: GE Aerospace