On December 17, 2025, the Institute of Aero Engine at Xi'an Jiaotong University made a groundbreaking announcement. China's first fully 3D-printed turbofan engine, which was a collaborative effort involving the Institute of Engineering Thermophysics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhongke Hangxing Technology Co., Ltd., Xi'an Jiaotong University, and other contributors, and was manufactured by Xi'an Aerotech Electromechanical Intelligent Manufacturing Co., Ltd., successfully passed its ground test.

Leveraging additive manufacturing technology, this innovative engine achieves integrated component molding. This represents a paradigm shift from the traditional aero - engine manufacturing approach, where multiple parts are assembled. Instead, it simplifies the process by integrating hundreds of individual parts into cohesive components.

Advanced techniques, such as laser powder bed forging printing, have been harnessed to bring to life cutting - edge designs. These include bionic cooling channels, which mimic natural structures for enhanced cooling efficiency, and topologically optimized structures, designed to achieve the best performance with the least amount of material.

The adoption of these advanced methods has led to a significant reduction in the number of core components by over 40%. Additionally, the structural weight of the engine has been decreased by 25%. This effectively enhances the engine's thrust - to - weight ratio, a crucial metric in aviation performance. Moreover, it paves a new way for the lightweight and high - performance development of aviation power equipment.

This revolutionary engine is set to find applications in unmanned aerial vehicles and small - to medium - sized aircraft. It also lays a solid foundation for further exploration of 3D printing technology in the realm of future civil aviation engines.