The £9million deal will give the MoD access to digital engineering support and data which could, in turn, lead to the firm producing a “family” of light military aircraft.
| Image-rendering of Aeralis' solution for a modular jet capable of covering different tasks starting from the same core fuselage. |
Defence chiefs have signed a £9million deal paving the way for a Hawk and Red Arrows replacement plane.
The British Defense Minister signed a contract with Bristol-based Airis in mid-December as a down-payment on a new generation aircraft.
The £9million deal will give the MoD access to digital engineering support and data which could, in turn, lead to the firm producing a “family” of light military aircraft.
The Aeralis proposal provides for a revolutionary modular platform that will allow the user to obtain different types of jets starting from the same core fuselage. The cockpit, engine, wings and tail can be changed depending on the type of task that the aircraft will have to cover. Variants are expected to include basic and advanced trainer aircraft.
The British Defense Minister signed a contract with Bristol-based Airis in mid-December as a down-payment on a new generation aircraft.
The £9million deal will give the MoD access to digital engineering support and data which could, in turn, lead to the firm producing a “family” of light military aircraft.
The Aeralis proposal provides for a revolutionary modular platform that will allow the user to obtain different types of jets starting from the same core fuselage. The cockpit, engine, wings and tail can be changed depending on the type of task that the aircraft will have to cover. Variants are expected to include basic and advanced trainer aircraft.
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An industry source said: “It’s good to see we have finally started investing in and supporting British aircraft.
“This announcement shows how UK engineering can provide a flexible and affordable approach on the global stage while making the Red Arrows cost-effective in times of challenging budgets.”
Aeralis boss Tristan Crawford said: “This contract is another step towards rejuvenating our ability to develop whole aircraft.
“We are the only UK company taking this pioneering digital engineering approach.”
The technology developed by Aeralis will also be used in the UK’s Tempest project to build a replacement for the RAF Typhoon.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced last week that the Britain would partner Japan and Italy on the programme, officially known as the Future Combat Air System.
Welcoming the deal with Aeralis, MoD director of Future Combat Air Richard Berthon said: “The learning we will get from Aeralis will support digital engineering across our FCAS enterprise, giving us the information we need to make decisions as this programme progresses.”
“This announcement shows how UK engineering can provide a flexible and affordable approach on the global stage while making the Red Arrows cost-effective in times of challenging budgets.”
Aeralis boss Tristan Crawford said: “This contract is another step towards rejuvenating our ability to develop whole aircraft.
“We are the only UK company taking this pioneering digital engineering approach.”
The technology developed by Aeralis will also be used in the UK’s Tempest project to build a replacement for the RAF Typhoon.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced last week that the Britain would partner Japan and Italy on the programme, officially known as the Future Combat Air System.
Welcoming the deal with Aeralis, MoD director of Future Combat Air Richard Berthon said: “The learning we will get from Aeralis will support digital engineering across our FCAS enterprise, giving us the information we need to make decisions as this programme progresses.”
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Written by Matteo Sanzani
Images: Aeralis
