TT Electronics announced it has recently signed two major agreements for power electronics solutions in aerospace and defense markets – one with MBDA Italia and the other with Rolls-Royce. These come shortly after it showcased its latest power conversion technology – including Altitude DC for power conversion in electrified aircraft — at the Farnborough International Air Show held in late July.
The MBDA Italia deal, depicted above, was announced August 11. The two companies have signed a letter of intent that strengthens their collaboration and provides a platform to explore future opportunities. The agreement reflects a shared commitment to innovation and builds on a long-standing industrial relationship between the two companies. MBDA Italia acts as the Italian arm of the broader MBDA group, handling relationships and contracts directly with the Italian Ministry of Defense. The parent MBDA Group is a joint venture owned by three major European aerospace and defense leaders: Airbus (37.5%), BAE Systems (37.5%), and Leonardo (25%). The company develops missile technologies and weapon systems for air, sea and land armed forces.
In London on August 4, TT Electronics announced a significant development in its long-standing partnership with Rolls-Royce. Under the transformative multi-million pound agreement, TT Electronics’ Bedlington and Barnstaple facilities will supply, high-reliability power electronics solutions for all large civil aircraft engines over their operational lifetime.
As the technology that governs how each engine runs, TT Electronics’ multi-chip power modules and precision magnetics are mission-critical components for the aircraft. Rob Relph, Executive Vice President, Power Division at TT Electronics, commented: “This agreement is a reflection of the trust we’ve built together in the UK over four decades and our shared ambition to advance technology and improve engine performance.”
Advanced power electronics capabilities highlighted at Farnborough Airshow
At the Farnborough show held in late July at Hampshire in southern England, TT Electronics emphasized how its engineering teams support projects from early-stage design through to manufacturing and system integration, with solutions ranging from off-the-shelf products and configurable platforms to customized designs.
Two products took center stage in the presentation at Farnborough – Altitude DC, a high-voltage DC-DC converter technology designed to deliver high power density for aerospace applications where space, weight and performance are critical; and the AX-Force family of bidirectional and tridirectional power converters for aerospace and defense applications in combat vehicle electrification, propulsion systems and other mission-critical equipment. The display also covered its planar and ALM magnetic components, and complex PCB assemblies.
As the aerospace industry shifts towards hybrid, electric and hydrogen-powered aircraft, the demand for innovative, high-voltage power conversion solutions also rises. The Altitude DC product is designed to address this challenge.
“[Next-generation] aircraft face significant restrictions in range and payload capacity… Although they offer zero emissions during flight, their limited range makes them suitable only for short-haul flights currently. Extending their range without compromising performance is a key focus of our R&D efforts,” notes Julian Thomas, Engineering Director at TT Electronics.
OEMs face a major hurdle in developing sustainable aircraft: achieving sufficient energy density in storage systems, especially at altitudes between 15,000 and 50,000 feet. Traditional power converters contribute to excess weight, diminishing aircraft performance and efficiency. Furthermore, the lengthy turnaround time for power converter design and qualification – often exceeding two years – hinders the rapid pace of aerospace innovation.
As well as arcing issues, traditional power converters can weigh too much for aerospace use while not offering the performance or efficiency required. Bespoke solutions can take two years or more for the completion of the design and the required certification process, which slows down innovation. Off-the-shelf solutions are not really an option either, as they can be uneconomical in such a low volume industry, where each manufacturer has its own particular set of requirements. TT Electronics is attempting to bridge the gap between bespoke and off-the-shelf designs by offering manufacturers the best of both worlds; modular designs that are intended to be easy to customize.
As Mark Wood, VP for Engineering at TT Electronics explains, “From an engineering perspective, it’s all about the customer. To help enable future applications and architectures in aircraft and defense applications, we provide building blocks. These blocks likely won’t meet all of the customer’s requirements, but we can help them meet their own specifications in a relatively short time. For more info, see www.ttelectronics.com.
