A new family of turbojet engines has been developed in Britain under a partnership between the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and UK start-up Alloyed, with one design moving from concept to flight in under seven months, as per a recent press statement.
The programme, led by MOD’s Strategic Capabilities Office, combines government investment with matched funding from Alloyed. Engineers designed, built and tested the engines entirely in the UK using digital design and manufacturing techniques, cutting development timescales that traditionally take years.
The family spans thrust levels from 30N to 2000N, covering applications from small drones to larger aircraft. Two engines have already reached production: a 300N-class engine has completed flight testing and entered serial production, while a 1100N-class engine progressed from concept to flight-ready status in under seven months.
Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard MP commented: “Taking a jet engine from concept to flight-ready in just a matter of months shows how defence and industry can work together to deliver capabilities at the speed required by today’s world.”
Alloyed Chief Executive Officer Michael Holmes added that the partnership allowed the company to mature advanced propulsion systems rapidly while building lasting UK capability.
The programme has already created more than 60 skilled engineering and manufacturing jobs, with 45 more expected within a year. It also supports over 40 UK suppliers, mostly small and medium-sized enterprises, strengthening the domestic defence supply chain.
The initiative delivers on commitments made in the Strategic Defence Review to bolster Britain’s defence industrial base and open new export opportunities, positioning the UK as a leader in digitally-led defence manufacturing.
Learn more on the UK MoD website
