GKN Aerospace and the US Air Force Research Laboratory have launched an $8.4-million initiative to advance additive manufacturing for aerospace structures.
Named Titanium Industrialization and Technology Advancement for Near-net Additive Manufacturing (TITAN-AM), the initiative aims to scale the use of titanium-based additive processes for large aerostructures.
The program will focus on improving Laser Metal Deposition with Wire (LMD-w), a method that builds components layer by layer with wire feedstock.
Work will be carried out at GKN Aerospace’s Global Technology Center in Fort Worth, Texas, which supports advanced manufacturing development and collaboration with US defense and aerospace partners.
Additive Manufacturing for Aerostructures
The program targets several technical areas required for structural applications in aerospace.
Focus areas include adapting LMD-w for large parts, creating material datasets, and improving simulation tools for design and manufacturing.
It also includes non-destructive inspection and testing on full-scale parts to validate integrity.
According to GKN Aerospace, its proprietary additive manufacturing technology provides key improvements, including reduced raw material waste.
Estimates suggest this approach can result in material savings of more than 70 percent compared to conventional production methods, potentially lowering costs and supporting sustainability.
Additionally, by providing an alternative to traditional fabrication and logistics, this manufacturing approach may strengthen supply chain resilience, making aerospace component availability less susceptible to disruptions.
GKN Aerospace’s latest projects include the serial production of additively manufactured structural components, such as parts for the Pratt & Whitney GTF engine, currently in service on aircraft including the Airbus A220 and Embraer E195-E2.
