{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Paris mood reflects defence sector spending spree","description":"With civil aerospace primes targeting production rates of 75 per month by 2027, and NATO members increasing defence spending to over 2.5% of GDP, business is brisk in the aircraft and defence sectors. The Paris Air Show in June showcased several UK companies that are investing during strong business conditions, says Will Stirling. Bathed in blazing sunshine, Paris Le Bourget Airport hosted the 55th Paris International Air Show from 16 to 22 June. A large UK pavilion featuring over 50 exhibitors joined thousands more. Aerospace is on the rise \u2013 the aerospace, defence, security, and space sectors contributed \u00a342.2bn to the UK economy last year, marking a 10.4% increase from 2023. Defence is also poised for significant growth: Britain\u2019s defence spending will increase to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, up from approximately 2.3% in 2024, representing an additional \u00a36bn per year. Furthermore, the government aims to elevate spending to 3% of GDP, potentially adding a staggering \u00a320bn annually on top of the 2.5% baseline by 2030. A large fraction \u2013 likely over \u00a320bn annually by 2030 \u2013 will be allocated specifically to equipment and weapons programmes such as missiles, submarines, nuclear infrastructure, drones, tanks, and factory expansion. ADS, the aerospace, defence and security industries business group, hosted nearly 100 companies at this year\u2019s Paris Air Show, predominantly manufacturing firms that produce everything from machined components, roll forming and composite structures to avionics and AI-powered digital engineering. MTD examines some of the exhibitors\u2019 news. Faster composite production for wing tips iCOMAT is a Gloucester-based advanced manufacturing company that has developed an automated composite production process, the Rapid Tow Shearing (RTS) process. Working for aerospace primes and defence customers, the RTS, which enables defect-free fibre steering for composites, is helping to advance new lightweight, high-performance structures. The company is one of several innovative SMEs working with GKN Aerospace on a new \u00a312m R&D programme to develop and demonstrate next-generation composite wing and flap structures, called ASPIRE \u2013 Advanced Structural Product Integrated Airframe. The project will deliver three full-scale composite wingtip variants for structural testing to ultimate load, allowing the consortium to validate new technologies in highly relevant test conditions. Each wingtip variant will represent a different structural philosophy and technology set. Variant one is a bonded assembly with multiple parts, aligned with GKN Aerospace\u2019s design approach. It will validate the manufacture of three wingtip variants. The ASPIRE consortium includes Carbon ThreeSixty, iCOMAT, Lineat, Pentaxia, and the University of Bath, with support from agency Axillium and co-funding from the Aerospace Technology Institute. ASPIRE will also develop an optimised composite flap. The flap demonstration will feature a pre-preg manufacturing approach with RTS skins provided by iCOMAT, tailored fibre-placed brackets from Carbon ThreeSixty, low-energy out-of-autoclave curing moulds, and press-cured ribs. A key programme milestone will be achieving TRL6, Technology Readiness Level 6, for the press-curing of composite ribs. \u201cASPIRE is a perfect example of the power of UK collaboration to drive aerospace innovation,\u201d said John Pritchard, president for civil airframe at GKN Aerospace. \u201cBy bringing together specialist SMEs, academic expertise, and GKN Aerospace\u2019s industrial leadership, this programme will accelerate the development of high-rate, sustainable composite wing technologies.\u201d Martin Baker For nearly 80 years, Martin Baker has designed, manufactured and fine-tuned ejector seats in the UK in Denham, Middlesex, and at locations globally. In that time, these devices have saved more than 7,700 aircrew members\u2019 lives from over 90 air forces. The seats are fitted to programmes including the F-35 Lightning II, Eurofighter Typhoon, F-16 (some versions) and BAE Systems Hawk. At Paris, the company showcased the flagship US16E ejection seat. The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II aircraft is the company\u2019s biggest programme, and the US16E seat equips all variants of the F-35. More than 1,500 US16E seats have been delivered for 12 international F-35 operators; the US16E has saved the lives of 10 aircrew to date. The US16E seat became the genesis for the new Mk18 ejection seat range, with improved ejection performance, reducing the risk of ejection and minimising life cycle costs. The new technology has allowed safe ejection for aircrew with nude weights as low as 46.7Kg (103lbs) and ejection up to speeds as high as 600Kts for aircrew wearing Helmet Mounted Displays, a common peripheral in modern combat operations. Martin-Baker is offering the Mk18 seat range to all the new aircraft trainer and fighter aircraft programmes. The company has doubled its headcount in the last 10 years, and 28 apprentices are enrolled across the business. Complex aerospace systems need AI As aviation becomes more deeply sophisticated and data-reliant, data analytics companies must coordinate. Aerospace engineering companies are prolific users of simulation software to test component performance in different scenarios. AI (artificial intelligence) means you can explore designs 1,000x faster than physics-based simulation, according to Altair Engineering, which was acquired by Siemens in March. In Paris, Altair demonstrated how its solutions are helping the aerospace sector from concept through production to in-flight performance. It applies AI to combine several powerful technologies: digital engineering, smart factories, certification by analysis, digital maintenance, repair and overhaul, and digital twins.  \u201cAI, data, and connectivity are no longer future concepts \u2014 they are today\u2019s competitive advantages,\u201d said Dr. Pietro Cervellera, senior vice president of aerospace and defence, Altair. \u201cOur technologies are helping the aerospace industry achieve next-level performance, sustainability, and innovation breakthroughs.\u201d Demonstrations showed how engineers can reduce design cycles, optimize structures for weight and strength, and improve aircraft performance using intelligent, AI-assisted modelling tools. Beyond the marketing, however, the use of AI in simulation has an essential role in democratising engineering. These solutions empower government agencies and startups to deliver advanced programmes quickly. The Altair Aerospace Startup Acceleration Program gives young companies enterprise-grade tools to bring novel technologies to market faster. Altair has recently partnered with the Campania Aerospace District in Italy to provide over 150 SMEs and startups with access to AI simulation tools, empowering them to work at the same technological level as OEMs and tier-one suppliers. Rocket science inspires students to manufacture The continued growth of the aerospace, defence, and security sectors requires a skilled talent pipeline. ADS also supports Race2Space, a multi-university and company initiative that engages young people in designing and building rockets and space systems. Announced at Paris, Carrie Waters, 18, a first-year physics student at Durham University, has spent the past year helping to build a powerful, 600kg thrust liquid-fuel rocket engine. She is a member of Durham University Spaceflight, a student-run rocket launching team competing in this year\u2019s Race2Space. In July, the team will \u2018hot fire\u2019 their engine at the Westcott Space Cluster during the final stage of the competition. In this crucial test, the engine will be securely mounted and ignited horizontally while connected to pressurised fuel systems. The engine must demonstrate its ability to perform under extreme conditions\u2014delivering the correct thrust, flow rates, and structural integrity\u2014before being launched as part of a future rocket. It\u2019s like Heinz Wolff\u2019s The Great Egg Race on Rocket Fuel. \u201cI\u2019m really excited, I\u2019ve never done anything like this before,\u201d said Carrie. \u201cI can\u2019t wait to see whether what we\u2019ve designed and built actually works. It\u2019s very daunting. I\u2019ve had a great time working with the team and learnt so much.\u201d Carrie believes that initiatives like Race2Space are vital for helping students from all backgrounds turn academic learning into career opportunities. She hopes to one day work for organisations like Skyrora or the European Space Agency, contributing to rocket and satellite missions. ","author_name":"MTD Audiobook","author_url":"https:\/\/mtdcnc.com\/magazine","html":"