Germany – Checking and testing apparatus – RPGen – Real Pulse Generator

The German Aerospace Center (DLR) requires a test center for testing large aircraft structures, small aircraft, helicopters, and air taxis, as well as for supporting their certification. The focus is on full-scale crash and impact tests. To make aviation even more efficient, economical, and sustainable, the aviation industry and research are developing new technologies and design approaches for tomorrow's aircraft. These must meet the highest requirements for passive passenger safety with partly completely new energy storage systems, such as hydrogen tanks or batteries. CITE is therefore to be able to test large structures, as well as small aircraft, helicopters, and air taxis, and thus support their certification. For this purpose, DLR-CITE will for the first time carry out full-scale crash and impact tests. In the crash area, testing under realistic impact conditions from more than 15 meters in height is the focus, and in impact tests, for example, the impact of artificial birds and drones on critical areas. The test conditions in the interior of the test halls will be highly reproducible and thus meet the highest requirements regarding test and measurement requirements. For the performance of crash tests with aircraft such as helicopters, eVTOLs (electric vertical take-off and landing) or aircraft fuselage sections, a new crash test facility (RPGen - Real Pulse Generator) is to be developed and constructed. The crash test facility will be used for crash tests with vertical speed as well as for combined vertical and horizontal speed. Further information can be found in the enclosed short performance description dated 17.03.2026. Since the performance description and its attachments are confidential documents, the bidder must sign a confidentiality agreement (NDA) in the participation competition. After submitting the duly signed confidentiality agreement, the bidder will receive the necessary documents in the tendering phase.