GKN Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney expand additive manufacturing work to F135 engine
Companies sign a Technology Development Agreement to explore large-scale AM engine cases for the fighter jet program
RTX’s Pratt & Whitney and GKN Aerospace have signed a Technology Development Agreement to jointly explore additive manufacturing for large structural components of the F135 engine, which powers the F-35 Lightning II.
The agreement, supported by the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (NDMA), sets up a joint development program to demonstrate the feasibility of producing a large-scale engine case using AM. A first demonstrator component is expected to be ready by 2027, with a certified product targeted for the end of 2028.
Development centered in Norway
The development work will be led from GKN Aerospace’s facility in Kongsberg, Norway, using the company’s laser-directed energy deposition with wire (L-DED w) process, which it has developed and matured over several years. The goal is to produce a full-scale component that maintains compatibility and interchangeability with the current engine design.
The companies described the initiative as a step forward in applying AM to large-scale, high-performance aero-engine structures, and said the component is expected to be among the first of its kind at this scale in military engine applications.
Framed around supply chain and production benefits
GKN Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney said AM could improve supply chain resilience and production processes by reducing lead times, lowering material usage and increasing overall efficiency, and that the collaboration will assess these benefits for future aerospace applications.
“I am pleased to see this collaboration bringing together strong industrial capabilities and advanced manufacturing expertise. This initiative reflects our ambition to further develop and industrialize additive technologies for demanding aerospace applications,” said Sébastien Aknouche, Senior Vice President at GKN Aerospace.
“This agreement reflects our continued focus on advancing technologies that support the long-term needs of the F135 program,” added Chris Johnson, Vice President of the F135 Program at Pratt & Whitney. “We appreciate the collaboration with GKN Aerospace as we explore new manufacturing approaches that contribute to future engine readiness.”
