May 29, 2025 Alex Marsh
The aviation sector is undergoing a monumental transformation as engineers pursue more electrically driven subsystems. This push for highly electric aircraft places unprecedented demands on the design, architecture, and capabilities of onboard electrical systems to support greater functionality and reduced environmental impact. In this blog, we will first examine the foundational requirements of electrical systems in modern aircraft, then explore how these systems are being enhanced to meet the complex power needs of next-generation aviation.
Modern aircraft rely extensively on electrical systems to support both essential components and a growing number of auxiliary technologies, including:
While some of these tasks have historically been supported by mechanical or hydraulic systems, electrical alternatives are now preferred for their efficiency, weight savings, and simplified maintenance.
However, designing an aircraft electrical system involves more than routing power, requiring careful attention to multiple performance and safety factors. Above all, these systems must be built with robust fault tolerance to maintain continuous operation even under failure, with components that can endure electromagnetic interference, high thermal loads, and other conditions. At the same time, power generation needs to meet the specific demands of each flight phase, and the energy produced has to be transmitted with minimal losses through a highly integrated and lightweight distribution network. Though the number and complexity of onboard electronics grow over the years, considerations like these continue to serve as the groundwork for enabling advanced capabilities to be seamlessly introduced.
The concept of the More Electric Aircraft (MEA) has become a prevailing trend in aerospace engineering, these platforms seeking to replace traditional pneumatic and hydraulic systems with electrical counterparts. This transition is not merely due to preference, instead being driven by industry-wide goals to enhance energy efficiency and sustainability while reducing overall aircraft weight and simplifying maintenance. With these next-generation aircraft, several considerations are integral to planning new electrical system layouts.
As functions start to fully transition to electrical power, the total electrical load onboard aircraft will demand highly capable power generation and distribution frameworks. To aid in this task, electrical architectures are shifting from conventional 115V AC and 28V DC standards to higher-voltage systems, such as 230V AC and 270V DC. These elevated voltage levels allow more power to be delivered with less current, minimizing conductor size and system weight while improving efficiency.
Additionally, high-density batteries and hybrid systems incorporating hydrogen fuel cells are gaining traction, particularly for regional and urban air mobility (UAM) aircraft. While unsuitable for long-haul commercial use due to current energy limitations, these technologies are ideal for short-range, low-emission platforms by introducing precise thermal regulation, efficient power distribution, and long-term energy cycle management. To support their functionality, aircraft must implement advanced battery management systems, fast-charging capabilities, and redundant power pathways.
As aircraft systems function with higher and more variable power levels, they require sophisticated power conversion units that manage fluctuating electrical loads without excessive energy loss. A noteworthy development in this area is the adoption of wide-bandgap semiconductors—most notably silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN)—which enable the production of compact, lightweight converters and inverters that can operate at higher voltages, frequencies, and temperatures when compared to traditional silicon-based counterparts.
However, as these power electronics are added, they introduce new challenges to thermal management. High-power components installed in confined spaces generate substantial heat, which can degrade performance or cause damage if not properly dissipated. As such, advanced cooling solutions like liquid-cooled enclosures, high-capacity heat sinks, and thermally conductive composite materials are being built directly into system layouts.
Concepts like the Airbus ZEROe and NASA’s X-57 Maxwell represent future platforms that will depend entirely on electric propulsion, which asks onboard systems to deliver several megawatts of power—an exponential leap compared to traditional aircraft. Whether a particular model is utilizing hybrid-electric or fully electric propulsion, aircraft manufacturers are tackling the new power requirements with distributed electrical architectures. These systems utilize multiple smaller power generation and energy storage units, which collectively deliver consistent and scalable power.
This approach improves load balancing, redundancy, and modular integration across different airframe types, but coordinating numerous power sources and components in real time introduces reliance on highly advanced power management strategies. To monitor electrical loads dynamically, reroute power as needed, and ensure uninterrupted operation during variable flight conditions, predictive control algorithms, smart inverters, and intelligent distribution networks are sure to be central to system design.
The trajectory of modern aircraft design is moving to replace mechanical and hydraulic components wherever feasible, meaning the need for advanced, high-capacity, and intelligent electrical systems will only increase. With this being said, having access to high-quality, ready-to-purchase electronic parts is essential to meet updated regulatory standards and operational demands for aircraft. ASAP Semiconductor, through its website Sourcing Streamlined, stands out as a trusted partner in this regard.
Offering thousands of aviation electrical components and related equipment, Sourcing Streamlined is a one-stop purchasing platform for professionals. With everything we ship out to customers coming from leading or thoroughly vetted suppliers and being inspected as necessary, we ensure compliance and readiness for various operations. Moreover, we pride ourselves on optimally meeting even the most unique requirements, so be sure to reach out to our team to see how we can serve you with competitive procurement solutions.
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