China has carried out the maiden flight of a domestically developed ultra-lightweight miniature jet engine produced entirely using 3D printing, according to Xinhua.
The flight test, conducted on Tuesday in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, reached a maximum altitude of 4,000 meters. The engine's developer, Aero Engine Corporation of China (AECC), stated that the trial demonstrated the system’s operational reliability and stability under real-world flight conditions.
The engine is described as China’s first flight-tested turbojet engine in the 160-kilogram thrust class to be manufactured entirely using additive manufacturing techniques guided by multi-disciplinary topology optimization. AECC emphasized that this marks a breakthrough in advanced propulsion design and production.
According to AECC, the achievement establishes a stronger technical foundation for developing next-generation aviation engines in China. The core advancement lies in combining innovative design strategies with 3D printing to fill a critical domestic capability gap in full-engine engineering applications.
The research team applied tailored topology optimization methods to the engine’s design, enabling integrated component structures that significantly reduced its weight and enhanced performance.
Prior to the flight, the engine completed a series of ground-based validation tests to confirm performance benchmarks and service life requirements.