66
ADVANCED MANUFACTURING
By Ged Henderson
In association with: REACHING ENTER NOW DEADLINE:
Midnight, Friday 4 December 2026 Judging partner:
Energy partner: Runway sponsor: Sponsored by:
In August 1986, in the skies above Lancashire, a pioneering aircraft designed and built in the county made its historic maiden flight.
The Experimental Aircraft Programme (EAP), a technology demonstrator that would prove crucial to the successful development of the Eurofighter Typhoon, was put through its paces as thousands of spectators gathered near Warton to witness its take-off.
Now, 40 years later, the excitement is building again as the countdown continues towards the maiden flight of the UK Combat Air Demonstrator – the nation’s first crewed combat aircraft since the EAP took to the skies.
Being built in Lancashire by the Ministry of Defence and BAE Systems, with fellow defence giants Rolls-Royce and MBDA, its role is to provide advanced aerospace engineering, digital design and manufacturing techniques, while drawing on the skills and expertise that will shape the next generation combat aircraft delivered through the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP).
Supported by:
The final assembly of around half of the main aircraft structure has been taking place at BAE Systems’ plants at Samlesbury and Warton.
ENTER HERE
redroseawards.co.uk @redroseawards
#RRA27
More than 11,500 parts have been designed to date, totalling about 90 per cent of the aircraft’s overall weight with many of these being developed through the UK supply chain.
Completion of the first robotically assembled component in BAE’s Factory of the Future at Warton represented a pioneering industry achievement. The component is scheduled to undergo structural testing later this year, alongside one of the wings.
And while no date has been announced, the aim is to get the aircraft ready for flight by the end of 2027.
FOR THE SKIES
Tony Godbold, Future Combat Air Systems (FCAS) delivery director at BAE Systems, describes the work taking place in Lancashire as getting ‘ready and match fit for the main programme’.
He says: “We are pushing boundaries, testing new things, trying new things out in engineering and manufacturing. It is exciting, we are using muscles we have not used in a long time and discovering new ones.”
Speaking to Lancashire Business View at Farnborough International Air Show, he revealed how the EAP programme inspired him to get into the industry in his formative years. And he added: “Hopefully this aircraft will have a similar influence on this generation.”
The project to help deliver Tempest, the next generation fighter jet, is at the cutting edge of
FalconWorks centre for advanced research and technology development, it is intended to provide electronic warfare and precision strike capabilities against airborne and ground targets.
More than 500 BAE workers have been involved in the aircraft’s development to date, working with more than 75 large companies and SMEs from across Britain’s aerospace sector.
Operating with frontline combat aircraft such as Typhoon it will enhance combat mass and operational effectiveness, with planned availability to enter service before the end of the decade.
Speaking at Farnborough, defence secretary Wes Streeting said: “Built at BAE Systems in Warton by British engineers, backed by British businesses large and small, this aircraft
This capability represents a significant company
investment in the UK’s future of air power and builds on our long standing commitment to innovation
advanced manufacturing. The aim is to reduce the risk to the GCAP programme and to support the long-term development of technologies, skills and industrial capabilities that will be critical to its delivery.
New technologies such as advanced additive manufacturing are being pioneered as a crucial part of the work.
Advanced manufacturing is also at the heart of the project to deliver Brontanax, the UK’s first uncrewed Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), which was unveiled at Farnborough.
The first-of-its class CCA was designed and built by engineers at BAE Systems’ Warton site. Delivered through the defence company’s
demonstrates that the UK has the skills, the technology and the determination to lead the world in combat air power.”
Simon Barnes, group managing director of BAE Systems’ air sector, added: “This capability represents a significant company investment in the UK’s future of air power and builds on our long standing commitment to innovation.
“Alongside supporting defence priorities, it will strengthen the UK’s sovereign defence ecosystem by creating opportunities for SMEs, suppliers and partners across the country.”
The aircraft is now being prepared for ground based testing at Warton prior to flight testing within UK airspace.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76
