United Kingdom (UK)

Edgewing, the JV leading the development of the combat aircraft at the heart of GCAP, will be able to accommodate more industrial partners without undue delays to the project, CEO Marco Zoff has insisted.

Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham says he has “expressed openness” to Germany in joining the GCAP fighter development effort already underway with Italy and Japan.

The opposition Conservative Party has proposed the development of an air and missile defense shield should it return to government.

UK uncrewed rotorcraft developer Certo Aerospace has raised £5 million ($6.6 million) to accelerate development of its Capstone co-axial autonomous helicopter.

A new maintenance and support deal with Airbus aims to grow the availability of the UK Royal Air Force’s A400M airlifter fleet by 30%.

Portuguese space component maker Omnidea says it has acquired what is left of British rocket startup Orbex, which folded this year.

UK authorities believe Iran was behind a suspected foiled plot to attack a base housing U.S. Air Force bombers in England last weekend.

British rocket startup Skyrora says it has completed a key hot-fire test for its future orbital launch system.

Rolls-Royce is investing £300 million ($400 million) in its UK manufacturing and engineering facilities, primarily to expand civil aerospace operations.

Vertical Aerospace, which just appointed former Airbus Commercial Aircraft CEO Fabrice Brégier as chair of its board, said it has initiated a review of strategic alternatives.

Since 1967, Britten-Norman has delivered 1,254 aircraft.

UK eyes sovereign HAPS network; airborne laser revival; contrail avoidance success.

Alloyed Turbojet Engine Readied For Flight With UK Defense Backing

The British Defense Ministry has formalized its plans to acquired Tekever AR5 tactical intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance drones, while also moving forward with buying small drones for the army.

A UK think tank proposes modernizing airspace at regional airports to create innovation hubs for drones, autonomous aviation and aerospace testing.

Introduction of a maritime surveillance role for the UK Royal Air Force’s new Protector uncrewed aircraft system is to be accelerated, ministers say.

The U.S. Air Force has restarted RC-135 Rivet Joint reconnaissance flights from England after a hiatus of nearly a year.

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham's government will set out a roadmap to increase defense spending to meet NATO targets and “fully fund” the Defense Investment Plan (DIP).

The UK is negotiating with the European Union about linking their Emissions Trading Systems, both of which include aviation.

Europe’s premier air-to-air missile is far from finished while the UK develops a next-generation option.

With traffic expected to continue to grow in Europe, air navigation service providers are taking steps to increase capacity while curbing environmental impact.

UK airports see record passenger numbers in the June quarter, driven by LCCs and European leisure travel, despite disruptions from the Middle East conflict.

The UK government has cleared the release of classified information on MBDA’s Storm Shadow/Scalp air-launched cruise missile to enable local production of the weapon in Ukraine.

GKN Aerospace has successfully run what may be Sweden’s first clean-sheet jet engine in more than 70 years, in a development spanning nine months.