MAGNAGHI AERONAUTICA SPA

Their core work

Magnaghi Aeronautica is a Naples-based aerospace manufacturer specializing in aircraft landing gear systems, including design, integration, and qualification of both conventional and electromechanical actuation systems. They work across the full aircraft spectrum — from small aircraft and regional planes to fast rotorcraft including tiltrotors and compound configurations. Their H2020 work focuses on making landing gear lighter, more reliable, and electrically actuated, replacing traditional hydraulic systems with electromechanical alternatives up to TRL5 qualification.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the early H2020 period (2014–2018), Magnaghi focused on core landing gear component development — electromechanical actuators for nose and main landing gear (NLG/MLG) and electric brake systems. From 2020 onward, their scope broadened significantly to include full aircraft-level concerns: passenger comfort, noise and vibration reduction, fuel burn reduction, and integration across diverse platforms including tiltrotors and compound rotorcraft. This shift suggests a move from component supplier toward systems-level integration partner.

Magnaghi is evolving from a landing gear component specialist toward a broader aircraft systems integrator, with increasing involvement in next-generation rotorcraft and all-electric aircraft subsystems.

How they like to work

Magnaghi operates exclusively as a participant — they have never coordinated an H2020 project, indicating they bring deep specialist capability to consortia led by others (likely airframers or research centres). With 67 unique partners across 13 countries, they maintain a wide collaborative network typical of Clean Sky 2 and large transport programmes. Their consistent participation across multiple programme phases (GAM 2018 → GAM 2020) suggests they are a trusted, returning partner within established aerospace consortia.

Magnaghi has collaborated with 67 distinct partners across 13 countries, reflecting the broad multi-national consortia typical of Clean Sky 2 and Horizon 2020 transport programmes. Their network is firmly European, centred on the major aerospace nations.

What sets them apart

Magnaghi occupies a rare niche as a private Italian company with deep, demonstrated expertise in electrifying aircraft landing gear — a critical subsystem as aviation moves toward more-electric aircraft architectures. Their combination of mechanical landing gear heritage with electromechanical actuation R&D makes them a natural partner for any consortium working on next-generation undercarriage, electric taxiing, or weight reduction in aircraft subsystems. Few European companies combine this level of landing gear specialization with active participation in both fixed-wing and rotorcraft programmes.

Highlights from their portfolio

• FRC GAM 2018
  Largest single EC contribution (EUR 4.18M) — fast rotorcraft programme covering tiltrotor and compound aircraft development.
• FASE-LAG
  Directly targets fail-safe electromechanical actuation for landing gear, representing the core of Magnaghi's technology transition from hydraulic to electric systems.
• E-LISA
  Full landing gear system integration for small aircraft including iron bird testing — demonstrates move from component to system-level capability.