AbstractCertain intermetallic materials have undergone an evolutionary process whereby application of some of them could provide major benefits in aerospace systems. The realisation of the potential of intermetallic alloys based on Ti3Al has provided significant hope for making still greater advances in turbine performance through further developments in other intermetallic materials. However, examination of the past four years of progress toward this goal has highlighted the problem that much of the fundamental understanding of process–structure–property relationships in these materials, which is the technology base upon which their application relies, has simply not been developed and suggests that widespread implementation of these materials lies in the distant future. This paper briefly discusses the problems of employing intermetallics in aerospace systems, reviews recent research progress on selected intermetallic alloys currently under investigation as high temperature structural materials, and assesses the status of intermetallics as turbine engine materials. Specifically, advances and findings from studies carried out during the past few years on alloys of the titanium and nickel aluminides and on intermetallics that are intended for service at temperatures above 1000°C are discussed. Technical challenges and factors affecting the pace of development are highlighted throughout.MST/1562