China's homegrown 3D-printed turbojet completes first solo flight

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November 13, 2025 News 11533

China successfully completes first flight test of its 3D-printed turbojet engine.

Beijing, November 13 (CCTV) — China's independently developed minimally-designed turbojet engine utilizing 3D printing technology has successfully completed its first flight test, according to the Aero Engine Corporation of China (AECC) on Tuesday.

The milestone marks a significant breakthrough in the engineering application of 3D-printed engines.

The 30-minute test flight reached an altitude of 6,000 meters with a maximum speed of Mach 0.75. Operating throughout the flight at full capacity, the engine maintained normal working parameters without any abnormalities. This successful test represents the first single-engine flight powered exclusively by China's independently developed 3D-printed minimally-designed turbojet engine.

Mi Dong, Director of the General Technology Office at AECC's Research Institute, stated that the successful single-engine flight test further verifies the engine's reliability at higher altitudes and in more complex environments. The test also validated the engine's compatibility with aircraft, demonstrating strong application prospects for providing new power solutions for various platforms including loitering munitions, unmanned aerial vehicles, and target drones.

Notably, over 75% of the engine's components by weight were manufactured using 3D printing technology. This approach significantly reduced the number of parts while achieving lightweight and high-performance design objectives, laying a solid foundation for future flights at higher altitudes and speeds.

Source: CCTV News