INNER MONGOLIA: In a major advancement for aerospace engineering, China’s Aero Engine Corporation (AECC) has successfully conducted the maiden flight of its 3D-printed micro turbojet engine in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The engine, named the Minimalist Lightweight Micro Turbojet, is the first of its kind in China to complete a flight test, producing a thrust of 160 kilograms.
AECC confirmed that the test flight reached an altitude of 4,000 metres above sea level, validating the engine’s performance, reliability and stability in real operational conditions. The test adhered strictly to planned protocols and marked the full-scale engineering application of 3D printing technology in China’s aviation sector.
The micro turbojet engine’s development represents a significant milestone in the integration of additive manufacturing and aerospace design. AECC engineers employed multidisciplinary topological optimisation—a method that combines material efficiency with structural strength—to achieve the lightweight and high-performance characteristics needed for modern aviation engines.
According to AECC, the successful flight of the 3D-printed micro turbojet engine lays a strong technical foundation for the development of next-generation propulsion systems. The technology is expected to support future innovations in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), clean energy systems, and compact aviation platforms.
This achievement also places China among the few countries capable of combining advanced design methodologies with 3D metal printing at a flight-tested level. AECC noted that the innovation fills a domestic gap in this specialised area and will open new pathways for aviation power development and international competitiveness in high-end aerospace technologies.
