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China has completed a successful test flight of its first turbojet engine produced entirely through 3D printing, according to a statement released by the Aero Engine Corporation of China (AECC), a state-owned aerospace propulsion manufacturer. The flight occurred on Tuesday in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and reached an altitude of 4,000 meters (13,000 feet).

AECC stated, “This successful inaugural flight lays a more solid technical foundation for the research and development of future advanced aviation engines in China.” The engine belongs to the 160-kilogram (353-pound) thrust class and represents the country’s first turbojet in this category to be validated in flight using additive manufacturing.

The engine was built using a combination of 3D printing and multi-disciplinary topology optimization—a computational approach that identifies the most efficient material distribution within a part’s geometry. This method enables the production of integrated components with complex structures that are not feasible using conventional casting or forging. According to AECC, this strategy allowed engineers to reduce weight while maintaining structural integrity.

For China’s aerospace sector, the development addresses a longstanding issue: reliance on foreign engine suppliers. Producing high-performance turbine components, such as single-crystal blades, has historically required advanced materials and manufacturing techniques that China has struggled to fully domesticate. By shifting to additive processes, manufacturers may be able to bypass some of the technical bottlenecks that have slowed the country’s progress in jet engine development.

Engines in this thrust class are commonly used in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), particularly for high-speed or long-endurance applications. AECC has not disclosed the specific platform used for the test, nor has it released images or data beyond altitude confirmation. However, the weight and size suggest relevance for UAV propulsion, rather than commercial or crewed systems.

Moving from prototype to industrial-scale production introduces several challenges. Developing high-temperature-resistant metal powders with consistent microstructure is essential for ensuring mechanical performance under thermal stress. Quality control must be precise, as flaws in critical components can lead to engine failure. Certification procedures for flight safety and durability remain time-consuming, particularly for entirely additively manufactured systems.

While this test confirms that a flight-ready design can be achieved through digital manufacturing in China, it remains to be seen whether AECC or other domestic firms can replicate this result across multiple units. Standardization and reproducibility will be key benchmarks in determining the maturity of this approach.

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