As part of its rocket engine program and on the heels of the validation of smaller-scale engines, global software developer LEAP 71 plans to scale its computational engineering methodology.
As a reminder, LEAP 71’s methodology combines Computational Engineering with the latest advancements in industrial 3D printing. The recent maturation of very large-format metal Additive Manufacturing systems—with build volumes exceeding 1.5 m in all dimensions—has made it possible to directly produce complex, high-thrust engine components at full scale.
This results in reduced part counts, sometimes down to a single component, and eliminates the need for intricate multi-part assemblies, easing precision requirements and minimizing post-machining operations.
Two reference engines
In this new phase, the company will advance two reference designs: the Noyron XRA-2E5, a 200 kN aerospike engine, and the Noyron XRB-2E6, a 2000 kN bell-nozzle engine.
Both new reference rocket motors are conceived as complete propulsion systems, including the turbomachinery required to power them. At the core of this effort is Noyron, LEAP 71’s Large Computational Engineering Model, which encodes physics-informed logic to autonomously generate manufacturable hardware—without human intervention.
“The aerospike and bell-nozzle engines we are developing are not separate efforts—they are different phenotypes of the same computational DNA,” said Josefine Lissner, Managing Director of LEAP 71 and principal architect of the Noyron model. “This unified approach allows us to explore fundamentally different engine architectures without reinventing the wheel every time. It’s a systematic way of scaling complexity.”
That said, “the hardest challenge remains translating a computational model into real, testable hardware,” said Lin Kayser, Co-Founder of LEAP 71. “Especially in turbomachinery, where sealing, material fatigue, and transient conditions during startup and shutdown are critical. These are not just design problems — they demand practical testing, iteration, and close collaboration with manufacturing partners.”
A multi-year roadmap
The program follows a phased, multi-year approach. Initial testing will focus on simpler configurations, such as gas generator cycles, establishing a robust foundation before scaling to more advanced systems.
While the ambition is long-term, the roadmap is concrete. LEAP 71 is targeting the first test campaign of the XRA-2E5 aerospike engine within 18 months. The XRB-2E6 bell-nozzle engine, based on a full-flow staged combustion cycle, is planned for readiness by 2029.
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