Follow UK Investment Immigration and UK Technology: BAE Systems announced on the 6th that a Tornado fighter jet, fitted for the first time with 3D-printed metal parts, has successfully completed a test flight in the UK.
BAE Systems stated that the test flight was conducted at the company's Warton Aerodrome in Lancashire. The 3D-printed components on the aircraft include cockpit radio covers, landing gear guards, and air intake support struts.
The use of this new technology will save the UK Royal Air Force 1.2 million pounds in aircraft maintenance costs over the next four years. Mike Murray, Head of Airframe Integration at BAE Systems, stated, "You can produce these parts anywhere as long as you have a 3D printer, which means you can provide maintenance platforms for ships, aircraft, and aircraft carriers at any time."
According to the company, the parts for the test flight were produced at a Royal Air Force base in eastern England, with some parts costing less than 100 pounds. This new technology refers to the use of 3D printers capable of "printing" real objects, employing a layer-by-layer additive manufacturing process to create 3D entities. The most prominent advantage of 3D printing technology is that it can generate objects of any shape directly from computer graphics data without the need for machining or molds, thereby significantly shortening product development cycles, increasing productivity, and reducing production costs.
BAE Systems is the world's second-largest defense company and plays a significant role in the production of fighter jets in Europe, as well as the UK's latest generation of submarines and aircraft carriers.
