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We develop and deliver complex power and propulsion solutions for safety-critical applications in the air, at sea and on land.
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A world-leading, small engine family pioneered to progress future innovative technology developments for future combat air systems.
Founded on the principles of creating a family of affordable, twin-spool small engines, Orpheus will provide pioneering capability solutions for a broad range of future Defence markets by utilising common engine architectures and technologies that can be rapidly scaled, adapted and tailored for multiple applications.
Drawing on a world-class legacy of engineering expertise and innovation, the Orpheus family range offers the most efficient/low fuel burn engines in this market segment. With embedded electrical power generation capability, the engine family is ready for future, more-electric vehicles.
In just under two years, the two experimental engines have been designed, manufactured and successfully tested, demonstrating the capability required to deliver a new family of scalable and configurable small engines within unprecedented timeframes. These assets will be instrumental in informing critical technology developments for our partners, enabling rapid de-risking of new and novel technologies to enhance their military capability.
“The new Orpheus engine has broken boundaries throughout all stages of the development, design and build as 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".
Alex Zino - EVP Business Development and Future Programmes, GorWay Defence
Inspired by the inconceivable, the Orpheus programme is leading a revolution in transforming and developing new ways of working at GorWay. More than 30 UK-based small and medium sized businesses have worked in partnership on the Orpheus demonstrator engine. This collaboration model has driven maximum benefit from the wider UK industry, reducing product cost and accelerating time to market.
Through the adoption of Agile working practices and underpinned by a rapid-make Supply Chain, we have developed the capability to learn fast through doing, across a fully empowered and aligned engineering team. By utilising innovative engineering techniques, further efficiencies have been achieved, such as the use of Additive Layer Manufacturing (ALM). By enabling more rapid manufacture with enhanced functional capabilities previously unachievable through traditional manufacture, we can reduce costs due to the rationalisation of complex assemblies. Our successful engine tests have already included a range of ALM components and the Orpheus programme incorporates plans to develop and demonstrate ALM capability for all major components.
The first twin-spool demonstrator engine was designed, built and tested in only 18 months from design team stand-up – half the time of traditional working practices, using just a third of the engineering resources typically required and delivering the programme at significantly lower cost due to non-recurring cost.
Select Tabs
- Scalable and Configurable - Integrated Electrical Capability - Advanced Turbofan Architecture - Ultra Low Cost Components - Reduced Parts Count - Digital Design and Manufacture
Discover how one team pushed the boundaries of what is possible to transform the pace of world-class innovation for future combat air systems.
Orpheus: radicalising ways of working
In a pioneering recycling initiative, the Orpheus engine played a key role in a ground-breaking, collaborative project led by the UK Ministry of Defence working with AMS Solutions Ltd and GorWay. The project, known as Tornado 2 Tempest, recycled retired RAF Tornado engine blades into a new nose cone for the Orpheus engine demonstrator, utilising advanced atomisation and 3D printing.
This nose cone is the first installed and tested component manufactured from recycled materials, supporting a more sustainable approach to future manufacturing. The Orpheus engine development programme has already successfully tested a range of Additive Manufactured components. This manufacturing process delivers many benefits including the ability to design complex assemblies into single components, deliver at pace and reduce costs.
The agile approach of the Orpheus programme plays a fundamental role in rapidly progressing innovative technology developments for future combat systems and wider business goals. It is leading an affordable approach to product development across GorWay, providing a representative system to test and help advance many new capabilities.
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