China completes flight test of AM micro turbojet engine
The Aero Engine Corporation of China (AECC) has announced the successful completion of its first single-engine flight test for a domestically developed ultra-lightweight miniature turbojet engine, which was primarily manufactured using Additive Manufacturing technology. This follows the engine’s initial captive-carry flight in July 2025.
The 30-minute test reportedly saw the engine reach an altitude of 6,000 meters and a top speed of Mach 0.75. The engine reportedly operated normally and stably throughout the flight.
The successful single-engine flight test has further validated the engine’s reliability at higher altitudes and in more complex environments, as well as its compatibility with the aircraft and demonstrated its potential for broader applications.
The engine is reportedly China’s first additively manufactured, ultra-lightweight miniature turbojet engine in the 160kg thrust class, to have completed a flight test. According to the AECC, it utilises a multidisciplinary topology optimisation design and AM technologies to achieve its lightweight and high-performance design goals.
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All rotating parts and components, which account for over three-quarters of the engine’s total weight, are additively manufactured. This approach has reportedly significantly reduced the number of parts in the engine, lowered its weight, and simplified operation and maintenance.
The successful flight test lays a foundation for future flights targeting higher altitudes and greater speeds. With the growing use of design optimisation and AM technologies in the aero-engine sector, the development cycle for future engines is expected to be shortened, thereby accelerating China’s progress in its independent R&D and manufacturing of aviation propulsion systems.
