Airbus, Boeing and Raytheon are expressing interest after Australian researchers created what they say is the world's first 3D-printed jet engine. The manufacturing breakthrough could lead to cheaper, lighter and more fuel-efficient jets.

The engine was created through a partnership between Monash University and spin-off company Amaero Engineering.

The 3D-printed jet engine is claimed to be a world first. Source: ABCIn the past, engineers had to “melt, mold, carve and turn to get the final product," says Ian Smith, Monash University's vice-provost for research. "This way we can very quickly get a final product, so the advantages of this technology are, firstly, for rapid prototyping and making a large number of prototypes quickly.”

A second advantage is to make “bespoke parts” that you otherwise would be unavailable via classic engineering technologies.

French aerospace company Safran gave Monash researchers one of their old engines and asked them to make a copy. The engineers passed the test and they are now making prototype parts for Safran, Boeing and Airbus.