Rolls-Royce Defence business has designed, built, and run an innovative small engine concept in under 18 months that will change how products and technologies are developed for the UK’s Future Combat Air Strategy (FCAS).

Agile approachKnown as Orpheus, the first demonstrator engine concept, on display at Farnborough International Air Show (FIAS), has been developed using an agile approach – built nearly twice as fast as a conventional engine programme, with the second demonstrator within the family, already on test in Bristol, UK.

The Orpheus project has allowed for trial and collaboration across the business, combining proven methods of engineering with innovative digital technologies.

Defence Minister, Jeremy Quin said: “The new Orpheus engine has broken boundaries throughout all stages of the development, design and build and is a clear example of how we can deliver at pace. Throughout this project we have empowered our people to work in agile ways to disrupt our current ways of thinking and develop a product that is truly novel that can help our customers de-risk their future programmes and explore different technologies to enhance their military capability.”
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