NEUMANN is a pan-European collaborative project involving major players of the European Defence Industrial and Technological Base (EDITB), including key industry, mid-cap companies, SMEs and research organizations, to address the urgent need for strategic autonomy in developing building blocks essential for competitive novel propulsion and energy systems for future air dominance.

The project focuses on propulsion and energy systems technologies required for a highly efficient powerplant capable of delivering both increased electrical power generation and an improved thrust-to-weight ratio — technologies that are currently unavailable in Europe but are essential to meet the mission requirements and operational needs of next-generation fighter aircraft.

The goal of the NEUMANN project is to develop technologies and carry out collaborative system studies for novel energy domains in aircraft, with a focus on propulsion, electrical and thermal systems, and their management. The objective is to reach, within four years, a proof of system integration functionalities and increased confidence in enabling technology readiness at both subsystem and system level up to TRL 4. Ground demonstrators will be employed to assess technology integration and validation.

The project is organised in nine work packages and coordinated by GE Avio. Alongside a broad industrial presence, it is of strategic importance that aircraft manufacturers such as LEONARDO and SAAB are directly involved in the project, ensuring optimal integration of power solutions at platform level.

NEUMANN will enhance strategic autonomy in the defence sector concerning power and propulsion systems, especially in the areas of high-temperature materials, thermal management (enhanced by additive manufacturing), energy generation, and management and control systems. The project also promotes knowledge transfer and the implementation of new technologies within the EU and fosters important cross-border collaborations with SMEs and mid-caps in the defence sector.

Call:
EDF-2021-ENERENV-D-2

Ruolo del Politecnico:
Partner

Responsabile scientifico del Politecnico:
Prof. Paolo Roberto Massenio (DEI)

SSD:
ING-INF/04 – Automatica