GKN Aerospace and U.S. Air Force launch $8.4M TITAN-AM program for titanium LMD-w development

GKN Aerospace and the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) have initiated the TITAN-AM (Titanium Industrialization and Technology Advancement for Near-net Additive Manufacturing) program, a $8.4 million joint initiative. Based at GKN Aerospace’s Global Technology Centre in Fort Worth, Texas, the program focuses on the industrialization of Laser Metal Deposition with Wire (LMD-w) technology. David Bond, Chief Technology Officer for Airframes at GKN Aerospace, is overseeing the effort to advance material performance validation, advanced simulation, and non-destructive inspection (NDI) techniques for large-scale titanium aerostructures.

This partnership addresses the critical need for high-deposition-rate manufacturing of large-scale titanium components, moving beyond the build-volume limitations often associated with powder-bed fusion (LPBF) processes. By utilizing LMD-w, the program targets the reduction of material waste and the acceleration of production timelines for complex, near-net-shape structural parts. This effort places GKN Aerospace in a strategic position within the defense supply chain, competing to standardize large-format metal deposition for next-generation airframes where traditional forging and machining lead to high buy-to-fly ratios.

Success for this program depends on the ability to achieve aerospace-grade certification through rigorous material performance validation and the integration of advanced NDI protocols. GKN must demonstrate that LMD-w can produce structural components that meet the stringent fatigue and reliability requirements of both defense and commercial platforms like the Airbus A220. The immediate focus will be the successful demonstration of this technology on selected operational titanium structural components to prove industrial readiness.