Rolls-Royce Defence has designed, built, and powered up an innovative small engine concept in under 18 months — a groundbreaking 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 last week at the Farnborough International Air Show (FIAS), has been developed nearly twice as fast as a conventional engine programme, with the second demonstrator within the family, already on test in Bristol.

Pioneered by a team of skilled engineers, manufacturers, and programme managers, the Orpheus project has been approached in an innovative way, allowing for trial and collaboration across the business, combining proven methods of engineering with digital technologies.

The pace of innovation shown by British industry continues to push new boundaries, and the Orpheus engine is yet another example of that. To maintain a strategic advantage over its adversaries Rolls-Royce says it must continually adapt the way it approaches new capabilities. The FCAS system will deliver the capability to fight and win in the most hostile air environments.



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 derisk their future programmes and explore different technologies to enhance their military capability.”

Alex Zino, EVP business development and future programmes at Rolls-Royce Defence, said: 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.