Reaction Engines Ltd. joins National Composites Centre

The National Composites Centre (NCC; Bristol, U.K.) has announced that Reaction Engines Ltd. (Abingdon, U.K.) has joined the NCC’s membership network. Reaction Engines is developing a hypersonic propulsion system for aircraft and spacecraft, the Synergetic Air-Breathing Rocket Engine (SABRE).

The partnership will focus on accelerating Reaction Engines’ research in ceramic matrix composites (CMC), materials that the company says will play a critical role in the development of components for the commercial space market.

“The NCC’s partnership with Reaction Engines reflects our ambition to enable every hi-tech industry to access state-of-the-art composite manufacturing technology and technical specialists to accelerate their use of composites, “ says Richard Oldfield, CEO of the National Composites Centre. “We are looking forward to working with a team that share the NCC’s commitment and drive to turn research innovation into commercially viable components.”

“Reaction Engines has recently joined the National Composites Centre to accelerate its ceramic matrix composites research,” says Richard Varvill, chief technology officer of Reaction Engines. “This allows us to leverage NCC expertise and assist in the development of a UK supply chain leading to a supply of prototype components to meet the demands of the SABRE development program.”