GKN Aerospace and U.S. Air Force partner to advance titanium additive manufacturing


GKN Aerospace and the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory have launched a joint $8.4 million initiative to advance additive manufacturing for aerospace structures. The TITAN-AM program aims to industrialize titanium production methods for next-generation aerostructures.

 

The Titanium Industrialization and Technology Advancement for Near-net Additive Manufacturing program focuses on developing Laser Metal Deposition with Wire technology. The effort is intended to enable large-scale production of titanium components for defense and commercial aerospace applications.

The program will address key areas required for aerospace adoption, including process industrialization, material performance validation and advanced simulation capabilities. It also includes development of non-destructive inspection techniques and demonstration of the technology on selected structural components.

The work will be carried out at GKN Aerospace’s Global Technology Centre in Fort Worth, Texas. The facility serves as a hub for advanced manufacturing and collaboration with U.S. defense and aerospace partners.

 

 

David Bond, Chief Technology Officer for Airframes at GKN Aerospace, said: “TITAN-AM represents a significant step forward in additive manufacturing for aerospace structures.” He added: “By combining our deep manufacturing expertise with AFRL’s vision, we aim to accelerate the readiness of LMD-w technology and demonstrate its value on operational titanium structural components.”

GKN Aerospace said the initiative builds on more than 20 years of experience in additive manufacturing technologies. The company is already producing large-scale additively manufactured structures used in operational aircraft.

These include components such as the fan case mount ring for Pratt & Whitney GTF engines, produced in Sweden and the United States. The parts are currently in service on aircraft including the Airbus A220 and Embraer E195-E2.

The company said the program supports its broader strategy to develop lighter, stronger and more sustainable aerospace structures. The use of additive manufacturing is expected to reduce material waste, shorten production timelines and expand design flexibility for complex components.

 

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GE Aerospace to invest $18M at Batesville facility


GE Aerospace to invest $18M at Batesville facility

Published 11:42 am Friday, March 13, 2026

GE Aerospace announced plans to invest $1 billion in its U.S. manufacturing sites and suppliers in 2026, including $18 million at its facility in Batesville.

The investment will fund new and upgraded production equipment and tooling to expand ceramic matrix composite component manufacturing, along with additional inspection equipment and facility improvements. Ceramic matrix composite engine parts are about one-third the weight of traditional metal components and can withstand temperatures up to 500 degrees higher.

“What we make in Batesville goes a long way in helping power the newest narrowbody and widebody engines around the world, and this investment allows us to deliver for our customers, U.S. manufacturing, and the region,” said Matt Shambaugh, site leader for GE Aerospace in Batesville.

The Batesville site plays a key role in ramping up production of the CFM LEAP engine used on narrowbody aircraft and also produces components for widebody aircraft. Over the past three years, GE Aerospace has announced plans to invest more than $40 million in the Batesville facility.

The company also plans to hire 5,000 workers across the United States this year. More than 30 positions are currently open at the Batesville site.

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GE Aerospace : to Invest Another $1B in U.S. Manufacturing


• Investment will help customers by accelerating engine deliveries, ramping parts that extend time-on-wing, and strengthening defense production and supplier base

• Hiring additional 5K U.S. workers in 2026


CINCINNATI – March 9, 2026
– GE Aerospace plans to invest another $1 billion in its U.S. manufacturing sites and supplier base during 2026 to help accelerate engine deliveries, ramp production of parts that safely extend time between maintenance shop visits, and strengthen defense production to keep pace with military demand.

The 2026 investment-the company’s second consecutive $1 billion U.S. investment-will benefit sites across more than 30 communities in 17 states. GE Aerospace also plans to hire 5,000 U.S. workers, including both manufacturing and engineering roles, in addition to the 5,000 people it hired last year. View an interactive map of planned investments: https://www.geaerospace.com/manufacturing

“Maintaining U.S. aerospace leadership requires sustained investment in our people, our facilities, and the technologies that will define the future of flight,” said H. Lawrence Culp, Jr., Chairman and CEO of GE Aerospace. “This investment is for our customers, our communities, and our country.”

Since 2024, GE Aerospace has announced plans to invest more than $2.5 billion across its U.S. manufacturing sites and supplier base, including approximately $600 million in sites producing defense engines during the last three years. This manufacturing investment is in addition to the nearly $3 billion GE Aerospace invests annually in research and development.

Accelerating Deliveries
The investment expands capacity at sites producing and assembling commercial and defense engines. This includes $115M in Cincinnati, Ohio-home to GE Aerospace’s headquarters- to modernize infrastructure, increase test cell capacity, and expand advanced 3D metal printing capabilities.

Defense
More than $275 million of the $1 billion is planned to upgrade sites producing defense engines and components, helping to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base to deliver at pace for the warfighter’s evolving needs. Highlights include:
$40+ million for Lynn, Mass., to refresh machinery, expand test cell capacity and flexibility to meet delivery pace, and make building upgrades.
$10 million for Madisonville, Ky., to invest in new machines increasing part production, inspection equipment, tooling, and facility upgrades.

Commercial
The company is expanding commercial engine production capacity, particularly the CFM LEAP engine that powers the Boeing 737MAX and Airbus A320 aircraft families. These investments will increase part production for maintenance sites, helping reduce turnaround times. Highlights include:
$200 million to expand manufacturing capacity for LEAP high-pressure turbine durability kits that will improve time-on-wing for customers by more than two times in hot and harsh conditions. The investment also supports production of the reverse bleed system, which reduces the need for on-wing maintenance.
$20 million for Durham, N.C., for specialized tooling, engine line assembly systems, and building upgrades to support the increased assembly of narrowbody and widebody engines.
$7 million for Lafayette, Ind., in new tools, equipment, and facility upgrades that support engine assembly and increase capacity to meet 2026 narrowbody engine deliveries.

Investing in Supply Chain
GE Aerospace is investing more than $100 million, as part of the $1 billion, in its external supplier base. These funds will provide tooling and equipment to help stabilize production schedules-critical to meeting delivery commitments. Deploying these investments alongside FLIGHT DECK, the company’s proprietary lean operating model, already have helped improve material input last year by more than 40 percent from priority suppliers compared to the previous year. This, in turn, drove commercial engine deliveries up 25 percent and defense engine deliveries up 30 percent in 2025 compared to the previous year.

Investing in U.S. Workforce
Today’s hiring news builds on GE Aerospace’s announcement last fall of a new, $30-million GE Aerospace Foundation program to train 10,000 workers by 2030 with the manufacturing skills to support the entire industry.


*CFM LEAP engines are made by CFM International, a 50-50 joint company between GE Aerospace and Safran Aircraft Engines.

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About GE Aerospace
GE Aerospace is a global aerospace propulsion, services, and systems leader with an installed base of approximately 50,000 commercial and 30,000 military aircraft engines. With a global team of approximately 57,000 employees building on more than a century of innovation and learning, GE Aerospace is committed to inventing the future of flight, lifting people up, and bringing them home safely. Learn more about how GE Aerospace and its partners are defining flight for today, tomorrow, and the future at www.geaerospace.com.

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