Rolls-Royce unveils radical new approach to gas turbine development with Orpheus demonstrator at Farnborough International Air Show

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

Known as Orpheus, the first demonstrator engine concept, on display at Farnborough International Air Show (FIAS), has been developed using a completely 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.

Pioneered by a team of highly skilled engineers, manufacturers, and programme managers, the Orpheus project has allowed for trial and collaboration across the business, combining proven methods of engineering with innovative digital technologies.

Throughout the programme, Rolls-Royce has tapped into more than 30 UK-based small and medium size businesses, working on techniques such as Additive Layer Manufacturing to ensure Orpheus is adaptable and scalable for multi applicability and combines both electrical power generation and propulsive power.

Orpheus will shift the paradigm away from using off the shelf sub-systems for prototype vehicles, to being able to rapidly develop bespoke power solutions that can be quickly deployed.

“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.”

—EVP Business Development and Future Programmes Alex Zino, for Rolls-Royce Defence