The UK Government is set to provide more than £10m for two aerospace projects, which will be led by Rolls-Royce and seek to optimise aircraft engine performance and efficiency.

Funding forms part of a £3.9bn investment from industry and the government as part of the ‘Industrial Strategy’ initiative.

It will support research to develop new engine cooling systems and technology to prevent the formation of ice crystals on aircraft engines during high-altitude flights.

UK Aerospace Minister Richard Harrington said: “As the home of the first jet engine, the UK has an aerospace heritage that’s revered around the world.

“Through our modern Industrial Strategy, we will continue this legacy and have already committed to work with industry to invest £3.9bn to further transform the sector.

“These two projects will see the best talent from the industry come together to help the UK reach even greater heights in aerospace excellence.”

“We will continue this legacy and have already committed to work with industry to invest £3.9bn to further transform the sector.”

One of the projects is named ‘Critical Oil and Air System Technologies’ (COAST), which is a £3.7m effort that will see the development of engine systems to support cabin cooling, and advanced sealing solutions for oil systems and bearing chambers.

The COAST technologies will be designed to reduce fuel consumption, as well as improve the reliability of oil systems and integration of engine systems with the airframe.

Rolls-Royce is leading the project along with Bladon Jet and the Universities of Nottingham, Oxford, and Sheffield.

The ‘Design Excellence-Ice Crystal Engine Research’ (DE-ICER) aims to develop anti-icing systems and technology to protect the aircraft engine.

The £7m project is led by Rolls-Royce, in partnership with Satavia, GKN Aerospace and the University of Oxford.

Both projects will be delivered through the UK’s innovation agency, Innovate UK, and will receive funding from Rolls-Royce and the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI).