The agreement marks a significant step towards establishing a highly specialized and technologically independent national supply chain for advanced propulsion systems serving aerospace and defence applications.
NCM announces the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Logic S.p.A. and Mavel S.r.l., executed at the AIAD (Italian Industries Federation for Aerospace, Defence and Security) stand during the Farnborough International Airshow. The agreement aims to jointly develop SHyPP (Small Hybrid Power Platform), a new-generation hybrid propulsion platform designed for future Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS).
The signing ceremony was attended by Giuseppe Cossiga, President of AIAD; Lieutenant General Luca De Martinis, Director of the Information Technology, Telecommunications and Advanced Technologies Directorate within the Italian National Armaments Directorate; Daniele Tonti, President of the Umbria Aerospace Cluster; Maurizio De Mitri, President of the Piemonte Aerospace Cluster; and Paolo Cerabolini, President of the Lombardia Aerospace Cluster.
The agreement represents an important milestone towards the creation of a highly specialized and technologically independent Italian industrial supply chain in the field of advanced propulsion systems for aerospace and defence applications. It establishes the framework for industrial cooperation among the three companies by leveraging their complementary expertise while defining roles, responsibilities and coordination mechanisms for the design, development and commercial exploitation of the platform.
Under the agreement, NCM will contribute its expertise in the design and integration of turbomachinery for Energy and Aerospace applications, while assuming the role of technical coordinator for the SHyPP programme. Logic will provide its distinctive capabilities in cyber-resilient electronic control systems designed to enable intelligent energy management, a key element of the platform’s hybrid architecture. Mavel will contribute its expertise in high-speed electric generators, which are essential for the efficient conversion of mechanical power into onboard electrical energy.
SHyPP is intended to deliver a high-efficiency hybrid propulsion solution featuring high electrical power availability, extended operational endurance and outstanding integration flexibility across multiple platforms. The programme specifically targets the market for tactical drones and UAS platforms supporting LALE (Low Altitude Long Endurance), MALE (Medium Altitude Long Endurance) and Loitering missions, while strengthening both Italian and European technological sovereignty in a strategic industrial domain.
The agreement also lays the foundations for a long-term industrial development roadmap aimed at consolidating a national technological strategy in advanced propulsion while progressively expanding the platform’s applications towards new energy carriers and high-value dual-use solutions.
At the signing ceremony, the three companies’ representatives commented on the significance of the initiative.
“SHyPP stands out as a high-power integrated propulsion platform combining mechanical and electrical technologies within a single architecture that is both highly versatile and adaptable to multiple market segments,” said Domenico Galeazzi, CEO of NCM S.p.A. “By leveraging advanced technologies such as metal Additive Manufacturing, electronic combustion control and next-generation turbogenerators, the project lays the foundations for a proprietary solution capable of meeting the future requirements of advanced air mobility and unmanned systems.”
“The signing of this agreement represents another important milestone in Logic’s strategy to develop enabling technologies for next-generation aerospace platforms and unmanned systems,” said Alessandro Franzoni, CEO of Logic S.p.A. and Officina Stellare S.p.A. “The collaboration between companies within the Officina Stellare Group and highly qualified industrial partners such as NCM enables us to contribute to the development of a proprietary Italian solution capable of combining high performance, energy efficiency and operational endurance. We believe that intelligent energy management and mission control logic will be key enablers for the future evolution of UAS and for strengthening the competitiveness of both the Italian and European industrial ecosystem in this strategic sector.”
“In an international environment increasingly affected by regulatory and export restrictions on strategic technologies such as turbojets and microturbines, the availability of a nationally developed powertrain represents a significant competitive advantage,” stated Davide Bettoni, CEO of Mavel S.r.l. “The SHyPP approach not only capitalizes on the industrial capabilities available within Italy but also strengthens the technological autonomy and resilience of both the Italian and European supply chains, while providing platform integrators with an innovative solution that is independent from the use of rare earth materials.”