AbstractThis article reports on the development of second-generation Y₁Ba₂Cu₃O₇–(YBCO)-coated conductors deposited on biaxially textured MgO templates fabricated using ion-beam-assisted deposition (IBAD).The materials system architecture and processing techniques used to achieve high critical supercurrents on flexible superalloy substrates is described.The texturing of YBCO films on metal substrates approaches that of films deposited on single-crystal oxide substrates.Critical currents and critical current densities of YBCO films on metal substrates are also equivalent to YBCO films deposited on single-crystal oxides.