GKN Aerospace launches $8.4m titanium additive manufacturing programme with US Air Force

Aerospace manufacturer GKN Aerospace has launched TITAN-AM, an $8.4 million (€7.7 million) research and development programme in partnership with the US Air Force Research Laboratory, advancing Laser Metal Deposition with Wire technology for next-generation military and commercial aerostructures at its Fort Worth, Texas facility.

According to AviTrader, the programme Titanium Industrialisation and Technology Advancement for Near-net Additive Manufacturing will be conducted at GKN Aerospace's Global Technology Centre in Fort Worth, which serves as the company's primary hub for advanced manufacturing collaboration with US defence and aerospace partners.

TITAN-AM will concentrate on five areas critical to enabling LMD-w for structural aerospace applications. These cover the industrialisation of LMD-w processes for large-scale titanium aerostructure components, the development of titanium material datasets to verify structural performance and reliability, and the advancement of simulation capabilities to optimise design and manufacturing outcomes. The programme will additionally develop non-destructive inspection techniques tailored to additive manufacturing processes and demonstrate the technology on selected structural components.

The US Air Force Research Laboratory, headquartered at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, is the primary scientific research and development organisation for the US Air Force and Space Force, with an extensive portfolio of advanced materials and manufacturing programmes spanning both defence and dual-use aerospace applications.

LMD-w builds near-net-shape components by melting and depositing metal wire layer by layer using a laser heat source, offering significant material efficiency advantages over conventional titanium machining, a key consideration given the high buy-to-fly ratios historically associated with titanium aerostructure production.

GKN Aerospace supplies aerostructures, engine systems and additive manufactured components across a broad range of US military and civil aircraft programmes.

Access the full announcement on how GKN Aerospace is advancing additive manufacturing with a cutting-edge titanium production programme for next-generation aerostructures.