The rapidly growing energy appetite of artificial intelligence data centers is reshaping the aeroderivative gas turbine sector, leading to unexpected new applications for proven aviation technology. The latest example is the emergence of an industrial power variant of the widely used CFM56 aircraft engine, developed by New York-based FTAI Aviation, according to Aviation Week Network.
FTAI has unveiled FTAI Power, a 25-megawatt aeroderivative gas turbine based on later production versions of the CFM56 family. Unlike clean-sheet industrial engines, the new solution relies on remanufactured engines that have already seen operational service in commercial aviation. As reported by Aviation Week Network, this approach is designed to deliver power capacity quickly and cost-effectively, addressing the urgent needs of AI hyperscalers.
The announcement follows closely on the heels of Boom Supersonic, which recently revealed it is developing an industrial gas turbine derived from its Symphony turbofan. Boom’s concept, known as Superpower, targets AI data centers as well, but represents an all-new industrial configuration rather than a conversion of in-service engines.
FTAI Chief Operating Officer David Moreno said the accelerating demand from AI hyperscalers has created a pressing requirement for immediate power solutions. He added that FTAI Power aims to support the AI economy, which requires unprecedented amounts of electricity delivered faster and in a more flexible format. The company told Aviation Week Network that by leveraging its fleet of more than 1,000 engines, together with future engine acquisitions, it expects to produce CFM56-based power turbines predictably and at scale, with a potential output exceeding 100 units per year.
FTAI has not disclosed which specific CFM56 variant will be adapted, though the company is known to manage large numbers of CFM56-5B and CFM56-7B engines. Both variants share a common core featuring a nine-stage high-pressure compressor and a single-stage high-pressure turbine. The -5B powers the Airbus A320 family and covers thrust ratings from 22,000 to 33,000 pounds, while the -7B, used on the Boeing 737 Next Generation series, ranges from 19,500 to 27,300 pounds of thrust. According to Aviation Week Network’s Fleet Discovery database, the GE Aerospace–Safran CFM joint venture has produced more than 14,240 CFM56-7 engines and over 10,420 CFM56-5 engines, including earlier -5A and -5C versions.
Details on how FTAI plans to modify the low-pressure system surrounding the CFM56 core, or how power will be extracted in the aeroderivative configuration, have not been made public. By contrast, Boom Supersonic has confirmed that its 42-megawatt Superpower engine will feature a free power turbine and a modified low-pressure spool.
The entry of FTAI and Boom into the industrial gas turbine market comes as global demand for power generation equipment accelerates. Consulting firm Blackridge Research projects the gas turbine sector will reach a value of $84.5 billion by 2030. In this context, new entrants are positioning themselves against established aeroderivative suppliers such as GE Vernova, Baker Hughes and Mitsubishi Power, which already market turbines derived from cores including the GE90, CF6 and Pratt & Whitney JT8D.
If the FTAI Power and Boom Superpower projects prove successful, Aviation Week Network raises the question of whether other well-known — or even less familiar — aircraft engines could soon follow the CFM56 into a new life as industrial power generators, driven by the explosive growth of AI-related energy demand.
