Rolls-Royce has taken part in a ground-breaking recycling initiative as part of the Tornado 2 Tempest project, transforming components from former Royal Air Force aircraft into powdered metal to manufacture new parts for the Orpheus engine, a key component of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program.
This Rolls-Royce innovation could be a game-changer for the defense industry, making the supply of strategic metals more sustainable and accessible.
An innovative approach to recycling for military aviation
The Tornado 2 Tempest initiative aims to transform surplus Ministry of Defense components into new high-tech parts for tomorrow’s aviation. Materials such as high-grade steel, aluminum and titanium, found in obsolete or broken components, were recovered and atomized into powder for additive manufacturing. This process was used to create a nose cone and compressor blades for the Orpheus engine used in the Future Combat Air System program.
Rolls-Royce teams, in collaboration with Defence Equipment and Support’s (DE&S) Defence Recycling and Disposal Team (DRDT), MOD FCAS and Additive Manufacturing Solutions Limited (AMS), over 80 people, have tested these new 3D-printed parts : the results have been positive, confirming that these recycled parts are not only safe, but also suitable for future use.
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Featured photo : © Rolls-Royce
