At the Singapore Airshow 2026, held February 3-8 at the Changi Exhibition Centre, ST Engineering brought together its leading-edge capabilities across Aviation, Defense, Public Security, and Smart City in a unified group pavilion.
Within the Aviation segment, ST Engineering MRAS demonstrated its strength as a global nacelle systems specialist and Composites Center of Excellence, showcasing two advanced OEM solutions: the C919 nacelle inlet and a next-generation Business Aviation Thrust Reverser.
These solutions play a vital role in MRAS’s overall nacelle strategy for supporting production ramp-up in the commercial aviation sector, including single aisle commercial transport with our components on both the A320neo LEAP-1A and the C919 LEAP-1C. It also shows MRAS’s desire to grow the business aviation market by developing its own business aviation thrust reverser that complements its already certified business aviation inlet and fan cowl in production on the Bombardier Global 7500 and the newly certified Global 8000.
Together, these technologies reflect MRAS’s full in-house capability, from concept and digital engineering through certified production and validation.
C919 Nacelle Inlet: Certified Composite Excellence in Flight
A highlight of the showcase was the nacelle inlet developed for the COMAC C919 program.
The program required MRAS to design and produce nacelle components to customer specification, including full certification, testing, and analysis. The result is a high-performance composite inlet that is now fully certified and flying.
The project demanded:
- Lightweight, high-performance composite structures.
- Compliance with stringent aviation certification standards.
- Advanced acoustic treatment and anti-icing performance.
MRAS delivered several advanced design features:
- Acoustically Treated One-Piece Inner Barrel, a tool-locked structure with seamless honeycomb core and acoustically transparent core seaming technology, enabling enhanced noise attenuation while maintaining structural integrity.
- Directed Flow Swirl Nozzle, designed to enhance air circulation for anti-icing performance, improving operational safety and efficiency.
Comprehensive in-house testing, including icing, bird-strike, and lightning testing, validated performance across demanding operating conditions. The C919 inlet exemplifies MRAS’s ability to manage the entire lifecycle of a nacelle component, from digital design and analysis to certified production, all under one roof.
Business Aviation Thrust Reverser: Advancing Business Aviation Nacelle Technology
Alongside the C919 inlet, MRAS showcased its full-scale Business Aviation Thrust Reverser, developed to support Long Duct Mixed Flow configurations in business jet-sized aircraft.
This internally funded R&D program was created to demonstrate next-generation composite thrust reverser technology designed to improve aerodynamic efficiency, acoustic performance, and reliability.
The Pivot Door program aimed to:
- Expand MRAS’s nacelle expertise into business aviation.
- Develop a lightweight composite thrust reverser for high-temperature environments.
- Demonstrate manufacturability with scalable tooling approaches.
To meet these goals, MRAS incorporated:
- High-temperature BMI composite structures, bismaleimide resin systems capable of withstanding extreme engine temperatures while maintaining structural performance.
- Integrated electric actuation system; replacing traditional hydraulics to reduce complexity, eliminate external linkages, and improve aerodynamic cleanliness.
- Soft tooling for rapid development, enabling faster iteration and reduced lead time during the prototype phase.
- CFD-optimized Aerodynamics; computational fluid dynamics modelling was used to refine airflow and sealing performance.
The demonstrator was built at full scale and validated on an engine test stand, confirming improved aerodynamic and acoustic performance while maintaining structural integrity under high-temperature conditions.
MRAS will continue to support the industry with technology demonstrators aimed at improving propulsion system efficiency and to be ready to support the next airplane development program.
From Design to Certified Production: The MRAS Advantage
At the ST Engineering pavilion, visitors were able to see more than hardware. They experienced the depth of capability behind it.
MRAS brings together:
- Digital engineering and simulation
- Advanced composite manufacturing
- In-house testing and certification
- Integrated digital thread and automation expertise
This end-to-end capability allows MRAS to move rapidly from concept to validated prototype and into certified production, supporting OEM customers across commercial and business aviation platforms.
Singapore Airshow 2026 provided a powerful platform to demonstrate that capability on the global stage.
