---
title: "GKN Aerospace and US Air Force Research Laboratory launch $8.4 million TITAN-AM program"
url: https://www.voxelmatters.com/gkn-aerospace-and-us-air-force-research-laboratory-launch-8-4-million-titan-am-program/
date: 2026-04-14
modified: 2026-04-14
lang: en
author: "Joseph Caron-Dawe"
description: "GKN Aerospace has launched TITAN-AM (Titanium Industrialization and Technology Advancement for Near-net Additive Manufacturing), an $8.4 million program developed in partnership with the US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). The..."
categories:
  - "Additive Manufacturing"
  - "Aerospace AM"
  - "Defense"
  - "Metal Additive Manufacturing"
  - "Sustainability"
tags:
  - "insights"
image: https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/GKN-Aerospace-USAF-TITAN-AM-01-640x400.jpg
word_count: 267
---

# GKN Aerospace and US Air Force Research Laboratory launch $8.4 million TITAN-AM program

[GKN Aerospace](https://www.voxelmatters.directory/company/gkn-aerospace/) has launched TITAN-AM (Titanium Industrialization and Technology Advancement for Near-net Additive Manufacturing), an $8.4 million program developed in partnership with the [US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL)](https://www.voxelmatters.com/afrl-and-ursa-major-complete-flight-demonstration-of-draper-liquid-rocket-engine/).

The initiative is focused on advancing [Laser Metal Deposition with Wire (LMD-w) technology](https://www.voxelmatters.com/hiroshima-university-team-uses-hot-wire-laser-method-to-3d-print-industrial-grade-wc-co/) for large-scale aerospace structural applications, and work on the program will be carried out at GKN Aerospace's Global Technology Center in Fort Worth, Texas, which serves as a base for advanced manufacturing collaboration with US defense and aerospace partners.

TITAN-AM will address five areas required to qualify LMD-w for aerospace structural use: industrialization of the process for large-scale titanium components; development of titanium material datasets to support structural performance and reliability; advanced simulation capabilities for structural design and manufacturing; non-destructive inspection (NDI) techniques adapted for additive manufacturing; and demonstration of the technology on selected structural components.

![GKN Aerospace and US Air Force Research Laboratory launch $8.4 million TITAN-AM program](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/GKN-Aerospace-USAF-TITAN-AM-02-340x213.jpg)

The program also targets reductions in material waste, shorter production lead times, and greater design freedom for complex aerostructures.

"TITAN-AM represents a significant step forward in additive manufacturing for aerospace structures. By combining our deep manufacturing expertise with AFRL's vision, we aim to accelerate the readiness of LMD-w technology and demonstrate its value on operational titanium structural components," said David Bond, CTO Airframes at GKN Aerospace.

[GKN Aerospace expanded its Newington, Connecticut, facility in the latter half of last year](https://www.voxelmatters.com/gkn-aerospace-expands-am-fabrication-in-the-us-at-newington-ct-facility/), with the launch of a new production line dedicated to the additive fabrication of the Fan Case Mount Ring (FCMR).

The company will also host the [SAE International Aerospace Materials Specifications Additive Manufacturing Metals Committee](https://standardsworks.sae.org/standards-committees/ams-additive-manufacturing-metals)'s next [face-to-face meeting](https://www.voxelmatters.com/sae-ams-committee-to-convene-at-gkn-aerospace-in-sweden-this-may/) at its facility in Trollhättan, Sweden, at the start of May.