Collins Aerospace
RTX business supplying avionics, sensors and autonomous-systems technology, advancing automation, autonomy and robotics for aerospace and unmanned platforms.
Collins Aerospace is a business unit of RTX Corporation and one of the world's largest suppliers of aerospace and defense systems, headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. It designs, manufactures and integrates avionics, cockpit and flight-deck systems, navigation and communications networks, sensors, interiors, power and controls, and mission systems for commercial, military and space customers worldwide. Within its technology and innovation organization, Collins operates a dedicated Autonomous Systems team that combines automation and AI-enabled technologies to augment human operators and advance progress in automation, autonomy and robotics. This work spans autonomous flight and unmanned aerial systems, intelligent sensing and perception, machine learning for mission management, and human-machine teaming for crewed and uncrewed platforms.
The company has pursued unmanned aircraft and robotics development efforts, including a memorandum of understanding with Saudi Arabia to support development of unmanned aerial systems and robotics. Collins draws on deep expertise in avionics, flight controls, communications and sensor integration to enable autonomous and remotely operated vehicles, positioning it as a systems integrator and technology supplier for autonomy rather than a builder of ground robots. As an RTX business it benefits from large-scale engineering, manufacturing and certification capabilities across global sites. Its avionics, sensing and autonomy portfolio supports the navigation, communication and perception backbone of advanced unmanned and autonomous aerospace systems, with applications extending to defense, special and extreme environments, and next-generation air mobility.
Primary type & automation activities this supplier delivers:
Contact Collins Aerospace
WEBSITE
https://www.collinsaerospace.comHEADQUARTERS
United States
Company Facts
Founded
2018
Primary Role
System Integrator
Company Size
-
Primary Region
North America
Annual Sales
-
Funding Stage
-
Funding Total
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Certifications & Memberships
Collins Aerospace Completes Altitude Testing of Enhanced Power and Cooling System for F-35
Collins Aerospace has successfully completed altitude testing of its Enhanced Power and Cooling System (EPACS) for the F-35 jet. This new system is designed to enhance the thermal capacity of the aircraft, enabling it to support future technology upgrades. The testing involved simulating various mission demands and altitude conditions to evaluate the system's performance. The significance of EPACS lies in its ability to meet the increasing thermal and power demands of modern aircraft electronics. As new sensors and mission systems are integrated into the F-35, they generate more heat and require additional electrical power. EPACS aims to provide the necessary thermal margin to accommodate these upgrades without exceeding the aircraft's thermal limits. Looking ahead, the successful altitude testing marks a critical milestone in the development of EPACS, increasing confidence in its performance under real-world conditions. No further timeline was disclosed at the time of publication.
Military
Collins Aerospace Secures Up to $472 Million Contract for Chinook Avionics Services
Collins Aerospace has been awarded a contract by the US Army, potentially worth up to $472 million, to provide engineering services for the CH-47 Chinook fleet. This contract highlights the ongoing commitment to enhance the capabilities of the Chinook helicopters. The significance of this contract lies in its potential to improve the avionics systems of the Chinook fleet, ensuring that these helicopters remain effective and reliable for military operations. Upgrading the avionics is crucial for maintaining operational readiness and adapting to modern technological advancements. Looking ahead, industry stakeholders will be monitoring the progress of the avionics upgrades and their impact on the performance of the Chinook helicopters. No further timeline was disclosed at the time of publication.
News
RTX Increases FY26 Projections Following Strong Q2 Sales and Earnings Growth
RTX, the parent company of Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, and Raytheon, has updated its FY26 forecasts after experiencing significant growth in Q2. The company reported double-digit increases in both sales and earnings during this period. This growth is significant as it reflects RTX's strong market position and operational efficiency, which are crucial for maintaining competitiveness in the aerospace and defense sectors. The positive financial performance indicates robust demand for RTX's products and services, which may lead to further investments and innovations. Looking ahead, industry stakeholders will be monitoring RTX's performance closely to see if this growth trend continues and how it may impact future forecasts. No further timeline was disclosed at the time of publication.
News
Collins Aerospace Launches U.K. Hub for Electric Thrust Reverser Development
Collins Aerospace has inaugurated a new engineering hub in Wolverhampton, U.K., aimed at accelerating the development of electric thrust reverser systems for next-gen aircraft. The Engineering Center of Excellence is now operational and features a modular test environment designed to simulate real-world conditions for evaluating aircraft components and systems, enhancing the design scalability for future applications. This initiative is significant as the aerospace industry shifts towards electric alternatives to hydraulic systems, which can reduce weight by 15% to 20% in nacelle actuation. The elecTRAS technology, which eliminates hydraulic interfaces, is expected to improve fuel efficiency and operational performance while simplifying maintenance. This aligns with the long-term electrification strategies of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Looking ahead, Collins Aerospace aims to streamline development by consolidating its elecTRAS systems engineering and nacelle actuation design teams at the new facility. The company’s technology is already in service on the Airbus A350 family, having logged over 15 million flight hours by 2025. No further timeline was disclosed at the time of publication.
Transportation
FUTURE WARFARE | Air - Collaborative Combat Aircraft, Drone Motherships & the Autonomy Race Above the Battlefield
Anduril’s YFQ-44A Fury flew its first semi-autonomous mission on 31 October 2025 — 556 days from contract to flight. By February 2026 it was carrying live missiles and swapping autonomy software mid-flight. China’s Jiutian drone mothership flew on 11 December 2025, capable of releasing over 100 loitering munitions from its internal bay at 15,000 metres. And the U.S. Air Force is standing up its second experimental one-way attack drone unit for mid-2026. This article maps the most consequential aerial autonomous systems competition in history: the CCA programme that will determine U.S. air dominance in the 2030s, the Valkyrie’s surprising rebirth, the A-GRA open-architecture breakthrough, and the Chinese drone mothership that has no Western equivalent.
FUTURE WARFARE | The Autonomy Spectrum
How modern weapons shattered the concept of human control — from kill-switch confirmation to AI systems that select targets independently.
