DIGITAL STORM - CYBERSECURITY BUSH FLYING WITH MAF NEW SPACE - HOW TEMPEST IS SETTING THE PACE - December 2022
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
DECEMBER 2022
AEROSPACE
CYBERSECURITY
BUSH FLYING WITH MAF
NEW SPACE
www.aerosociety.com
December 2022
Volume 49 Number 12
DIGITAL STORM
HOW TEMPEST IS SETTING THE PACE
FOR MILITARY AEROSPACE
Royal Aeronautical Society
ARCHIVE & INSIGHT BLOG
Download the New AEROSPACE APP
Available for your phone and tablet
Prepare for an awesome launch! AEROSPACE is now available as an app!
AEROSPACE has continued to grow in stature and influence as the informative and expert source of
aviation, aerospace and space news, opinion and analysis. Revitalised from a design refresh, the clearer
sharper magazine now presents key stories in a crisp stylish setting now seamlessly integrated into a
convenient app.
Notifications when a new issue is available
Download and browse past issues from the previous two years
Download issues to read offline
Search function
Includes the twice weekly AEROSPACE Insight blog
Available on Android and Apple devices.
Search AEROSPACE on Google Play or iTunes, Download the app and log in using your aerosociety.com
member portal username and password.
The AEROSPACE App is the one-stop destination to the latest news in the fast-moving
world of aerospace from The Royal Aeronautical Society. Download a copy now!
publications@aerosociety.com +44 (0)20 7670 4300 @aerosociety
AEROSPACE APP advert 7_2021 280x210.indd 1 22/07/2021 15:29
Volume 49 Number 12
December 2022
EDITORIAL Contents
Gambling the future Regulars
As this is being written, the last-ever Boeing 747 is making its final journey out 4 Radome 12 Transmission
of Boeing’s giant factory, closing a chapter in aviation history that saw the iconic The latest aviation and Your letters, emails, tweets
aeronautical intelligence, and other social media
‘jumbo jet’ bring air travel to the masses and shrink the world. In company legend, analysis and comment. feedback.
Boeing ‘bet the farm’ on the 747, gambling that even if the US Air Force was
not interested in it as a transport aircraft it might interest airlines with its ability to 11 Pushing the Envelope 58 The Last Word
Rob Coppinger asks if water This month, Keith Hayward
transport hundreds of passengers over long distances. discusses ICAO and its role
injected powerplants are
That gamble paid off. Yet today, some analysts are worried that Boeing has about to make a resurgence on the international and
become increasingly risk-averse when it comes to future product strategy – in a bid to reduce emissions. political stage.
especially when it comes to a clean-sheet new airliner – something the airframer
has been mulling for years now. During a recent investors call, CEO David Features
Calhoun stressed that any new aircraft is now a decade or more off. His logic, 14 Wind of Change 30 Approaching the SMS
which is difficult to refute, is that pressing environmental demands mean that any In October, the RAeS hosted Mandate
senior members of the Team Safety Management System
new airliner will have to offer double-digit fuel burn efficiency in order to win a Tempest consortium and implementation is changing.
place in tomorrow’s market. Still scarred by the 737 MAX crisis, Boeing’s launch MoD officials for an exclusive David Learmount reports
decision is made more complex by the bewildering number of unconventional roundtable update on the FCAS from Wing Engineering’s SMS
programme. seminar and workshop.
configurations, competing propulsion and fuel solutions that may be available
ESA
MAF
in the 2040s, many of which also require extremely close integration with the
airframe. Long gone is the ‘easy’ upgrade path of fitting an airliner with engines
of gradually increasing bypass ratios.
However, while Boeing is pondering the options, its arch rival in Toulouse is
set to make hay in the narrowbody sector and accelerate even further ahead in
the next decade, with some predicting that the Airbus/Boeing market share may Of Flight and Faith
20 Launching into a New
34
end up 70/30 – a potentially irreversible decline. Moreover, if there is a decade- Now in its 75th year of Era of Space
operations, Mission Aviation The 2022 RAeS President’s
long drought in developing a clean-sheet airliner – who will design it? A skills gap Fellowship has begun flying in Conference was titled New
may turn into a skills chasm. Guinean skies. Robin Evans Space and looked at how the
Getting this wrong, of course, could spell disaster, but if the alternative is a reports on MAF’s bush flyers. sector can adapt and grow.
slow decline and fading glory, will Boeing roll the dice one last time?
Iranian State TV
Embraer
Tim Robinson FRAeS, Editor-in-Chief
tim.robinson@aerosociety.com @RAeSTimR
Correspondence on all aerospace matters is welcome at: publications@aerosociety.com
Editor-in-Chief Editorial Office 2022 AEROSPACE subscription
24 38
Tim Robinson FRAeS Royal Aeronautical Society rates: Non-members, £195 Net Zero by 2050? Cyber Rattling
+44 (0)20 7670 4353 No.4 Hamilton Place To place your order, contact: The 2022 Global Aviation Is increasing digitisation
tim.robinson@aerosociety.com London W1J 7BQ, UK Wayne J Davis Summit brought together of aviation opening up a
+44 (0)20 7670 4300 +44 (0)20 7670 4354 senior figures from across pathway to cyber risk?
Deputy Editor
publications@aerosociety.com
Stephen Bridgewater aerosubs@aerosociety.com the industry to address Dave Sloggett asks if cyber
www.aerosociety.com threats to aviation are real or
+44 (0)20 7670 4351 Any member not requiring a print climate change and
stephen.bridgewater@aerosociety.com AEROSPACE is published by the Royal version of this magazine should biodiversity. imagined.
Aeronautical Society (RAeS). contact: membership@aerosociety.com
Production Manager
Wayne J Davis FRAeS
+44 (0)20 7670 4354
Chief Executive
David Edwards FRAeS
USA: Periodical postage paid at
Champlain New York and additional
Afterburner
wayne.davis@aerosociety.com Advertising offices. 42 Message from our President
+44 (0)20 7670 4346 Postmaster: Send address changes
Publications Executive
partners@aerosociety.com 43 Message from our CEO
Chris Male FRAeS to IMS of New York, PO Box 1518,
+44 (0)20 7670 4352 Unless specifically attributed, no
Champlain NY 12919-1518, USA. 44 Book Reviews
chris.male@aerosociety.com material in AEROSPACE shall be taken ISSN 2052-451X 47 Additions to the National Aerospace Library
Production Executive to represent the opinion of the RAeS.
Reproduction of material used in this
48 RAeS Diary
Annabel Hallam
+44 (0)20 7670 4361 publication is not permitted without the 49 RAeS Branches Conference
annabel.hallam@aerosociety.com written consent of the Editor-in-Chief.
Printed by Buxton Press Limited,
50 Isle of Wight Branch STEM activities
Book Review Editor
Tony Pilmer Palace Road, Buxton, Derbyshire 51 RAeS 2022 Governance Review
book.reviews@aerosociety.com SK17 6AE, UK
52 New Member Spotlight
Distributed by Mail International.
54 Elections
Cover: Tempest FCAS and its digital twin. (Leonardo) 55 Obituary – David Eveleigh Gibbings
Additional content is available to view online at: aerosociety.com/aerospaceinsight
Read AEROSPACE and the Insight blog on your
Including: The importance of early reporting – EgyptAir Flight MS804, Electrify your commute,
Approaching the SMS mandate, Inclusive skies, Exclusive Team Tempest Roundtable highlights
smartphone or tablet with the AEROSPACE app
podcast, Morson Projects welcomes first Leonardo trainees, Swift progress, Airship resurgence. APP Available from Apple App Store and Google Play.
@aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com DECEMBER 2022 13
Blueprint
INTELLIGENCE / ANALYSIS / COMMENT
Advanced sustainment
Sustainment and life cycle costs would
be addressed through affordable
remanufacturing and lowered acquisition
costs.
Sensor fusion
The Modernized Apache would include
the latest sensors, combining these
with sensor fusion and pilot cognitive
and workload assistance.
DEFENCE
Future Apache breaks cover
At the US Army’s AUSA conference in October, Boeing Defense unveiled its concept for an evolved
AH-64 attack helicopter – the ‘Modernized Apache’ – to enable it to remain lethal into the 2060s in the
future Multi-Domain Operations battlespace. The Modernized Apache would build on the latest
AH-64Ev6 and include drivetrain upgrades, modular open systems, advanced sensors and mission
Boeing Defense
systems, and long-range precision munitions and directed-energy weapons. Its stub wing weapon
mounts would increase from four to six pylons.
4 AEROSPACE
Mission system Drivetrain upgrades
A modular mission system will allow the The Improved Turbine Engine and
operators to ‘plug & play’ new sensors, upgraded drivetrain would increase
payloads and capabilities without the Apache’s power, range, efficiency
extensive and costly integration. and speed. The new GE901 engine
will also power the US Army’s Future
Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA)
rotorcraft.
Extra firepower
Stub wing pylons would be increased
from four to six, allowing the
Apache to bring additional weapons
and combat persistence to the
battlespace.
Laser weapons
New weapons options for the Modernized
Apache would include longer-range precision
munitions, ‘air launched effects’, including
small drones and directed energy weapons.
DECEMBER 2022 5
Radome
SPACEFLIGHT AEROSPACE
Artemis 1 finally No clean-sheet aircraft
NASA
lifts off until 2035, says Boeing
On 16 November, NASA launched its uncrewed At an investors’ day call in aircraft saying: “If it doesn’t
Artemis 1 mission to the Moon from Launch early November, Boeing have a sustainability
Complex 39B, Cape Canaveral, Florida. This was CEO David Calhoun wrapper all around it, if it
the third attempt to launch the SLS rocket and its poured cold water on can’t meet the emissions
Orion capsule on a translunar flight. A previous the long-mooted idea tests, if it can’t deliver
launch was scrubbed due to a hydrogen leak to launch a new clean- significant performance
while, earlier in November, the rocket stack on the sheet airliner in the advantages, then there
pad was buffeted by the high winds of Hurricane near future, saying that won’t be an airplane.”
Nicole, after a previous storm led NASA to delay it would now be 2035 However, he promised that
the October launch and roll it back to the VAB at the earliest. Calhoun the company would “pull a
(Vehicle Assembly Building). The Orion module stressed that there needed rabbit out of the hat” and
and its attached European-built service module to be a 20%+ efficiency introduce a new aircraft
will now conduct a 25-day mission around the breakthrough to justify the in the middle of the next
Moon and back to splashdown on 11 December. launch of a clean-sheet decade.
UKRAINE CONFLICT
DEFENCE DEFENCE
Keep the air war pressure Over 25% of Russian Ka-52 fleet
on, warns RUSI destroyed
A report on the air war up stocks of missiles to According to an intelligence
Russian MoD
in Ukraine from the UK counter aircraft, cruise update from the UK MoD,
defence think tank, Royal missiles and loitering Russia is now confirmed to
United Services Institute munitions. This means have lost over 25% of its Ka-52
(RUSI) has warned that, that there is an urgent attack helicopter fleet in the war
despite recent Russian need for the West to in Ukraine. There are now 23
reverses, Ukraine will deliver new Western-built visually verified losses of Ka-52
still need support from SAM systems and missile helicopters, or over a quarter
the West. In particular, ammunition, self-powered of the 90-strong fleet, under
the report highlighted artillery systems (SPAAGs) growing evidence that Moscow
that Ukraine’s extensive and, ideally, fighter aircraft, has pushed its helicopter crews
usage of Russian-made to maintain the battlefield into action to halt the Ukrainian
SAM systems are burning momentum on the ground. counter-offensive.
NEWS IN BRIEF
test tools to eliminate latest attempt to snag a engineers, just in the US. Aviation Administration
The UK government persistent contrails. The reusable first stage of its The study highlights a of China (CAAC).
has launched a new airline says the research Electron rocket in mid-air retention problem in the Certification of the
campaign to increase the and findings will be shared using a helicopter on 4 advanced aerial mobility E195-E2 is expected to
attractiveness of aviation with the public. November failed after sector, double that of the follow shortly.
careers. ‘Generation a telemetry problem. legacy aerospace and
Aviation’ will aim to raise the Northrop Grumman However, the launch did defence industry which, it Eviation has agreed a
profile of aviation careers, will roll out the first put the MATS satellite says, is due to ostracism. deal to provide 25 Alice
signpost opportunities to B-21 Raider from for the Swedish National It calls on organisations electric aircraft to German
rejoin, promote the sector, Air Force Plant 41 in Space Agency into orbit. to “implement a culture start-up airline Evia Aero.
as well as use data and Palmdale, California on of diversity, inclusion, and The airline has yet to
research to boost future 2 December. Currently, According to a study by equity.” begin flights and plans to
resilience. six B-21s are in various the Vertical Flight Society use the nine-passenger
stages of construction. and hydrogen lobbying Embraer has announced Alice in a travel network,
Delta Air Lines has group HySky Society, its E190-E2 airliner spanning Germany,
announced it is partnering New Zealand/US launch the emerging eVTOL has been awarded type Austria, Belgium, Denmark
with MIT to study and provider Rocket Lab’s sector will need 10,000 certification by the Civil and the Netherlands.
6 AEROSPACE
AIR TRANSPORT SPACEFLIGHT
A330 heads for Prime time Latest Chinese space
station module blasts off
Airbus
On 31 October, a Long forward docking port to a
March 5B launcher side port on 3 November
carrying the newest to create a T-shaped
module for the Chinese structure. The addition
Space Station lifted off of the Mengtian module
from Wenchang Launch allows the station’s
Complex in China. The occupants to be doubled
rocket was carrying the to six astronauts from the
23t Mengtian (‘Dreaming current three on board.
of the Heavens’) With its completion, China
The aerial logistics arm of global e-commerce giant Amazon, Amazon Air, has signed a firm Laboratory Module for the now plans to keep it
agreement to lease 10 Airbus A330-300P2F converted freighters to bolster its cargo fleet. Tiangong space station. permanently occupied.
The cargo aircraft, which will enter service from 2023 and are being converted by EFW, will The new science lab was (See By The Numbers,
be operated by Hawaiian Airlines. moved from the original p 10).
GENERAL AVIATION AEROSPACE
Six dead after B-17 and Stratolaunch conducts hypersonic
P-63 mid-air collision vehicle captive carry test flight
All six people on board the bomber’s tail while
Stratolaunch
an historic B-17G and turning into the display
P-63 Kingcobra were circuit. The pilot of the
killed on 12 November, P-63 and the five people
when the aircraft collided aboard the B-17 ‘Texas
in mid-air at an air show Raiders’ were killed
in Dallas, Texas. The instantly when the two
two warbirds, operated aircraft disintegrated. No
by the Commemorative one on the ground was
Air Force had been injured with the wreckage The giant six-engine, twin-fuselage Stratolaunch ‘Roc’ carrier aircraft has carried out
taking part in the Wings landing within the airport the first captive carry flight of the Talon-A uncrewed hypersonic test vehicle. The flight
over Dallas air show at boundaries. The NTSB took place from Mojave Air and Space Port, California on 28 October, with the test flight
Dallas Executive Airport is now investigating the lasting five hours. Stratolaunch, originally designed to launch rockets horizontally, has
when the P-63 took off accident. now been repurposed into a high-speed test launch mothership.
of its Starlink internet on 28 October. The Volvo Group with a 50%
The first Boeing E-7 service, offering high- Bombardier has signed drone, developed by SAF blend powering its
Wedgetail for the Royal speed, low-latency in-flight a multiyear deal with Sichuan Tengden Science ATR 72s.
Air Force has had its internet for airliners and aviation services company, and Technology, has a
MESA radar installed. bizjets from between Signature Aviation for wingspan of 20m and a On 15 November, two
The Northrop Grumman $12,500 to $25,000 the purchase of enough maximum payload of 1.4t. people were killed in Poland
Multi-role Electronically per month. Installation sustainable aviation fuel when missiles, believed
Scanned Array (MESA) will require customers to (SAF) to cover all of its Sweden’s Braathens to be Ukrainian SAMs
which provides 360° pay a one-time hardware flight operations. The fuel Regional Airlines has launched to intercept
coverage with a giant cost of $150,000 for the will be used for production claimed to be the world’s Russian cruise missiles,
‘surfboard’ style antenna necessary equipment testing and certification first airline to operate landed in the village of
was fitted to the E-7 but, once complete, flights, relocation flights, regular services with the Przewodów, near the
fuselage at STS Aviation, Starlink promises an customer demo flights and maximum permissable border with Ukraine. The
in Birmingham. aerial internet experience after-service check flights. blend of SAF. It will same day had seen Russia
capable of video calls, operate a twice-weekly blitz Ukraine with around
SpaceX has launched VPNs, streaming and even China has flown a new Gothenburg-Lyon 100 missiles, a larger attack
the aeronautical version gaming. four-engine cargo UAV corporate route for the than on 10 October.
DECEMBER 2022 7
Radome
GENERAL AVIATION AIR TRANSPORT
Archer unveils Midnight eVTOL Precision Air crash into
Lake Victoria kills 19
Archer Aviation
On 6 November, an ATR were rescued by emergency
42-500 regional turboprop services and local fishermen.
operated by Tanzanian airline, The flight, PW 494, was on a
Precision Air crashed into scheduled service from Dar
Lake Victoria, with the loss es Salaam to Bukoba Airport
of 19 lives, including the two on the shores of Lake Victoria
pilots. Twenty-four people when the crash happened
out of the 43 on board at around 0853 local time,
survived the incident, which with bad weather reported at
On 16 November, US urban air mobility developer Archer Aviation revealed its production saw the aircraft ending up the time. Tanzania has now
Midnight eVTOL. Midnight will carry four passengers and one pilot, and will have a range partly submerged in the lake launched a full investigation
of 60 miles with a crusing speed of 150mph. Charging turnaround time is aimed to be and appearing mostly intact into the accident, with the
10 minutes. The company has already won commitments from United Airlines which, in on social media photos. aircraft’s ‘black box’ already
August placed a $10m deposit towards the first 100 examples. The surviving passengers recovered.
DEFENCE AEROSPACE
Chinese pilot recruitment GKN claims hydrogen milestone
probe spreads
GKN Aerospace
Following reports that around repercussions. One ex-
30 former RAF pilots had USMC Harrier pilot has
been lured to work in China, already been arrested in
the governments of France, Australia. The row blew up
Australia and Canada have after the UK MoD issued a
also begun investigating rare warning to pilots thinking
whether Western ex-military of selling their services
pilots are helping to train to China. However, a test
Chinese pilots. The nations pilot school in South Africa
have warned their former claimed that the UK MoD GKN has annouced it has completed a major milestone in demonstrating the safe
employees that helping the had been fully aware of its handling of an end-to-end liquid hydrogen aircraft fuel system. The ground-based
Chinese military gain the training links to China which demonstrator, under the Innovate UK-funded Safe Flight project, was based around
upper hand over Western did not include the transfer of the use of a hydrogen-powered search and rescue UAV to increase its endurance and
allies could likely lead to classified information. used a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell stack to verify the fuel system.
NEWS IN BRIEF
announced at NBAA- Jeppesen’s services the UK’s New Medium
An uncrewed Northrop BACE 2022 in Orlando were impacted after a At the Zhuhai Air Show Helicopter requirement
Grumman Cygnus in October. The aircraft reported ransomware in China, COMAC to replace the RAF
cargo ship made it to is now expected to be cyberattack on the announced 300 new Puma and three other
the International Space certified in the second half company. The company orders from seven helicopter types in UK
Station (ISS) on 10 of 2024 with the delay said it was experiencing Chinese lessors for its service. The bidders are
November after one of attributed to availability of technical difficulties C919 narrowbody airliner Airbus (H175M), Boeing,
its two main solar panels the GE Aviation Catalyst with some products – as well as 30 for the Leonardo (AW149), and
failed to deploy in orbit. It turboprop engine. The and services, as well ARJ21. The latest deal Lockheed Martin (S-70M).
was grappled by the ISS 850-1,600shp Catalyst as the processing and for the C919 now brings
Canadarm2 and safely is the first clean-sheet distribution of NOTAMs. the total orders to 1,115. NASA has revealed the first
berthed. business turboprop However, the Boeing The first C919 is set to crewed flight of Boeing’s
engine design in 50 years subsidiary stressed that be delivered to launch CST-100 Starliner spacecraft
Type certification of and also the first to use there was “no reason to customer China Eastern has now slipped to April
the Beechcraft Denali 3D-printed components. believe that this incident this month. 2023 from a previous launch
turboprop single has been poses a threat to aircraft date of February. Starliner,
delayed by a year, parent Flight planning software or flight safety.” (See Four bidders have now which was originally
company Textron Aviation and digital map provider, ‘Cyber rattling’ p 38). been downselected for supposed to fly in 2017, will
8 AEROSPACE
SPACEFLIGHT AEROSPACE
ATR celebrates
ATR
Spaceport Cornwall
awarded lift-off licence double certification
On the eve of the very paperwork. The launch
first satellite launch from will use Virgin Orbit’s
British soil, the UK CAA modified Boeing 747
has awarded Spaceport launch aircraft ‘Cosmic
Cornwall the first ever UK Girl’ which will drop the
spaceport licence, opening LauncherOne rocket over
the door for Virgin Orbit’s the North Atlantic. The nine
‘Start Me Up’ mission CubeSats for this mission Turboprop manufacturer ATR has revealed that its ATR 42-600 regional airliner has finally
from Newquay airport later include the DSTL/NRO been certificated by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). The airframer also
this month. The mission Prometheus-2 satellite, announced an order for three ATR 42-600s from an undisclosed Chinese customer.
was originallly scheduled in-orbit manufacturing Meanwhile, ATR also received EASA type certificates for its ATR 72 and 42 regional aircraft
to launch in November, demonstrator SpaceForge, outfitted with P&WC’s PW127XT-M turboprop engine. Purpose-built for the ATR, the
but had been reportedly and the first satellite from engine is expected to provide 40% extended time on wing, 20% lower maintenance costs
delayed by regulatory Oman. and a 3% improvement in fuel efficiency over previous-generation engines.
DEFENCE AIR TRANSPORT
USAF
IAG firms up A320neo
and 737 MAX orders
The shareholders of Aer haul aircraft Airbus products.
Lingus, British Airways, Iberia However, the same day
and Vueling parent group, IAG also saw approval from the
have approved a firm order shareholders for a firm order
AFSOC tests roll-off missile carrier to acquire 50 Boeing 737
MAX airliners, with options
for an additional 37 A320neo
airliners, adding to a previous
USAF Special Operations (AFSOC) has conducted the first live-fire test of ramp- for another 100. Deliveries order for 22 A320neo family
launched cruise missiles from a cargo aircraft in the European theatre in November. will take place from 2023 and narrowbodies announced
The Rapid Dragon demo, over the Norwegian Sea, saw an MC-130J drop a pallet of 2027, with the order divided earlier this year, bringing the
unspecified weapons out of its rear cargo bay, which then fired their motors. A previous between 25 737-8-200s and total to 59 single-aisle aircraft.
test in 2020 saw long-range JASSM missiles used to destroy a mock target in the Gulf 27 737-10s. The order marks The agreement also includes
of Mexico. The Rapid Dragon palletised munition concept is designed to allow medium a shift in the IAG member options for a further 50.
or large cargo aircraft to be quickly turned into bombers armed with precision stand-off airlines’ narrowbody fleet, with Deliveries of the A320neos
weapons. all its current short/medium- will begin in 2025.
now not enter operational To be delivered between
service until 2024 at the Universal Hydrogen 2024 and 2027, this will ON THE MOVE
earliest, according to NASA’s plans to fly a modified De grow the 737 MAX fleet
latest flight schedule. Havilland Dash 8-300 from 94 to 146. recently stepped down as
with a hydrogen-fuel- Katherine Bennett CEO of Etihad Airways.
The UK CAA has issued cell-based powertrain Textron Aviation Defense FRAeS, CEO of High
a consultation to simplify by the end of the year. A delivered the 1,000th Value Manufacturing Terry Holloway FRAeS
gaining and maintaining 1-megawatt powertrain Beechcraft T-6C Texan II (HVM) Catapult has received a Master Air
a GA private pilot licence will be fitted in one engine aircraft on 12 October. The been awarded 2022’s Pilot Certificate from the
in an overhaul of the PPL. nacelle, with the aircraft to landmark 1,000th airframe Woman of Excellence by Honourable Company of
The proposal includes be test flown out of Moses was handed over to the the International Aviation Air Pilots at the annual
creating a single set of Lake, Washington. Colombian Air Force, which Women’s Association Trophies & Awards
licences for aircraft and now has a fleet of five T-6C (IAWA). Banquet on 27 October.
helicopters, as well as Alaska Airlines has made Texan IIs based in Palanquero. Other winners included
a sub-ICAO licence for the biggest order in its 90- The latest customer for Tony Douglas is to be round-the-world flyers
flying in UK airspace only. year history by exercising the T-6C is Tunisia which appointed CEO of new Travis Ludlow and
The consulation ends on options to acquire 52 received its first aircraft on 6 Saudi start-up airline RIA, brother and sister Mack
16 December. Boeing 737 MAX airliners. November. set to launch in 2024. He and Zara Rutherford.
DECEMBER 2022 9
By the Numbers
Understanding the world of Aerospace through data
China’s Tiangong space station
China’s Tiangong space station
Graphic News
China has successfully completed construction of its space
station. Tiangong (Palace in the Sky) will link up with
Beijing’s planned Xuntian space telescope and host
experiments in orbit, around 400km above the Earth
RUSSIA APR 2021: TIANHE
(Harmony of the
Beijing Heavens) launched.
CHINA Core module consists
Wenchang of 50 cubic metre-
Launch site living quarters,
service section – with
INDIA
communications,
Hainan avionics, fuel, air and
water – and docking hub
JUN 2022: Third crew launched
JUL 2022: WENTIAN to Tiangong aboard Shenzhou 14
(Quest for the Heavens) spacecraft
launched. Crew oversees
installation Service section
OCT 2022: MENGTIAN (Dreaming
of Heavens). Third laboratory module
completes space station
Solar panels
Propulsion
module WENTIAN
Laboratory module
SHENZHOU
(Divine Vessel)
Carries three astronauts
LAUNCHER:
Long March 5B
rocket. Height: 56.9m,
payload: 6.0 tonnes
2023: XUNTIAN SPACE
TELESCOPE (Space
Sentinel) due to launch.
Will orbit with Tiangong
and dock for refuelling
and maintenance.
Will conduct research into
formation of universe
and dark matter
Sources: AFP, South China Morning Post, NASA, Space.com Picture: China National Space Administration © GRAPHIC NEWS
10 AEROSPACEPushing the Envelope
Exploring advances on the leading edge of aerospace
Robert Coppinger
Water injection returns
W
ater injection into jet engines is German Aerospace Center laboratory tests
not a new idea; it was used by have been conducted for this new water injection
the Boeing 707 and early 747 technology with a goal of achieving a technology
models for thrust augmentation. readiness level (TRL) of three by the end of 2022.
Since then manufacturers have A TRL of three refers to an experimental proof of
favoured ever more efficient turbines instead but concept.
now the pressures of climate change are changing MTU Aero Engines’ advanced programmes
the business equation and water injection studies are director, Dr Martin Stadlbauer explains that the WET
under way once again. concept places a vaporiser into the exhaust gas
The term ‘water’ injection is really a misnomer to cool the gas down before it is cooled again in a
as it is steam that is being fed into the engine. The condensing unit, liquifying the steam into water. When
steam can be introduced at an early stage, after needed, that liquid water is fed into a vaporiser which
the low-pressure fan or it can be injected into the uses excess turbine heat to turn it into overheated
combustion chamber. Its use can reduce nitrogen steam that is injected into the combustion chamber.
oxide (NOx), a significant global warming contributor,
and fuel burn which reduces all the environmental Water tank
impacts of aviation.
Stadlbauer expects an aircraft on a long flight to
Low hanging fruit have a tank of water on board, in addition to the
steam collected by the vaporiser. He said that, while
Dr Uyioghosa Igie is a senior lecturer in gas turbine the aircraft might need the tank for certain phases
engineering and operations at Cranfield University. of flight, it will only be for a very limited timeframe
He views water injection as a ‘low hanging fruit’ for with the majority of the flight served by water from
further improvements in jet engine performance. the exhaust. Stadlbauer added that a water injection
Focusing on existing engine improvements may geared turbofan will have a different nacelle shape.
seem redundant considering the expectations According to Stadlbauer, preliminary testing
of hybrid electric and hydrogen fuelled aircraft, shows that water injection is feasible and Igie agrees.
but water injection will not end with fossil-based His own work in his Cranfield laboratory has found
kerosene and can also be used for these future clear unambiguous benefits.
propulsion systems. The MTU work is aiming for an Airbus A320
It can provide benefits to the SAF consuming thrust class for its WET geared turbofan, which would
engines that will be employed for hybrid propulsion be a very high bypass ratio engine with a smaller
and water injection into a hydrogen fuelled gas engine core. The bypass ratio is the difference
turbine tackles a problem that they share with today’s between the air volume going through the engine
engines, namely that of NOx production. core and that going around the engine accelerated by
Starting this year, MTU Aero Engines is the the engine’s fan at the front. Fuel burn improvements
WHEN NEEDED,
project co-ordinator for a three-year steam injection are achieved by increasing the ratio and the engine
study called Sustainable Water-Injecting Turbofan would use kerosene or SAF. THAT LIQUID
Comprising Hybrid-Electrics (SWITCH). It is being The use of water aids the smaller engine core as WATER IS FED
funded by the EU Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking, the liquid creates a denser fluid passing through the INTO A VAPORISER
which is spending €700 million on 20 engine engine. While water is incompressible, gas and air are WHICH USES
projects. both compressible, and the presence of the water, EXCESS TURBINE
MTU’s water enhanced turbine (WET) concept is therefore, allows the use of a smaller compressor. HEAT TO TURN IT
a geared turbofan. SWITCH and WET aim to reduce MTU plans to have a ground demonstrator of its
carbon dioxide and NOx emissions, as well as the WET concept engine ready by 2029. Water injection
INTO OVERHEATED
formation of contrails. The latter form when hot humid was being used in Pratt & Whitney JT3C-6 engines STEAM THAT IS
air from a jet exhaust, which also contains engine on Boeing 707s in 1959 and come the end of this INJECTED INTO
soot, mixes with the high-altitude air that has a low decade, 70 years later, what was old could be new THE COMBUSTION
vapour pressure and temperature. again. CHAMBER
DECEMBER 2022 11Transmission
LETTERS AND ONLINE @aerosociety in Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com
in
Brandon Cheung: It was an
Waterbird tops list of 2022 Heritage Awards absolute blast speaking to
all the different companies
Mark Wright/AHUK
today! Looking forward to
more events like this to
come. Thank you very much
for hosting this.
Peter Round (RAeS
RAeS Project Altitude President): So good to
see so many young people
interested in all aspects of
aerospace.
The Lakes Flying Company (LFC) has
won Aviation Heritage UK’s Robert
Pleming Memorial Award for 2022 for
its recreation and successful flying of
Waterbird, an exact replica of the first
seaplane to fly with a stepped float.
The award was set up in memory of its
late Chairman, and was created specifically
Waterbird, the original of which was built
for Edward Wakefield by Avro, and flown
from Windermere in 1911. No construction
drawings survive for Waterbird, so the replica
– including its gamechanging stepped float
which reduced water drag during take-off
and has been used on all subsequent water-
borne aircraft – had to be built using only a
Nicholas Davis AMRAeS
Today we are at WMG
Academy in Coventry for
their annual Project Altitude
f
to recognise innovation in the preservation, few period photographs as a guide. event supported by Boeing, Electric GPU
conservation and restoration of aviation The project, which has involved building Skyrora and Airbus.
heritage, in the spirit of the outstanding the replica using period materials, such
S Bridgewater/RAeS
work which Dr Pleming led in returning Avro as bamboo and a modern engine as the
Rebecca Archer
Vulcan XH558 to the sky. only significant departure from the original,
The group won this year’s award for has taken 11 years to reach fruition with Brilliant end to mark
the construction and flying of its replica of waterborne flights in the summer of 2022. #teweek22, thanks RAeS
for supporting both Solihull
and Coventry WMG Rob Evans [Responding to:
From the RAeS photo archives Academy Trusts making it
another memorable year for
BAE Systems demonstrates
electric GPU]: Probably
our students! not suitable to be used in
RAeS/NAL
remote locations during a
Careers in Aerospace time of conflict?
A nice looking demo toy
Responding to: ‘Today we but like anything battery-
are hosting our annual powered they come from
Careers in Aerospace & a dirty background of
Aviation LIVE recruitment mining. Processing the raw
fair at the RAeS’. materials for batteries is
toxic to the environment
Colin Joy: Amazing and they get transported
experience and insightful. thousands of miles by
Thank you everyone who diesel powered ships. They
worked hard for this event. still need a power source to
Moreover, I would like to charge them and when they
thank all the companies who pack up altogether I can't
His Majesty’s Airship No1 leaving its floating Hermione because the naval contingent at
shed at the Cavendish Dock, Barrow-in- Barrow was attached to HMS Hermione, a came together and made imagine they are easy to
Furness. It was designed and built by Vickers cruiser moored locally, preparing to act as this event a huge success. recycle either.
Sons and Maxim as an aerial scout airship its tender. Special thanks, of course, to
for the Royal Navy. It was the first British When it was moved from its shed to the RAeS. Jasper Vd Heijden: It’s a
rigid airship to be built and was constructed conduct full trials on 24 September 1911, nice idea but the operating
in a direct attempt to compete with the it was broken in two by strong winds before Eslam Eldoky: What a day! cost doesn’t include
German airship programme. Often referred it could attempt its first flight. Although it
Had such amazing talks maintenance and initial
to as Mayfly, a nickname given to it by the never flew, its brief career provided valuable
lower deck (ie the ship's non-commissioned training and experimental data for British with different companies. purchase. It seems way too
crew), in public records it is designated HMA airship crews and designers. Really enjoyed that Cranfield good to be true.
University talk though.
12 AEROSPACEAndre Tempest: I'm sure Escorts for Rivet Joints The importance of early reporting – EgyptAir MS804
it's great on a nice clean
@SafetyAero
Anna Zvereva/WikiCommons
concrete airfield. What @GuardedDone
about front-line usage? On the ICAO AIG Experts
[Replying to 'Typhoons to
group we concluded 50%
escort RAF Rivet Joints
of Annex 13 investigation
Zane Adams: Military after Flanker 'accidently'
final reports are not
equipment goes from being fires missile'] Scramble
published. ICAO has no
able to run on anything from to fit AN/ALE-55 towed
authority to enforce the
decoys?
firewood to grain alcohol to SARPs. In 2018 the
requiring high-tech sensitive BEA requested CASIA
electronic batteries and to publish the report,
@dissident_the Some
charging systems. the presumption being
very dangerous games
The investigation into the loss of an EgyptAir Airbus they'll challenge the
being played by Russian
A320 (similar to this) in 2016 has not been published. findings in the report's
Richard Mallory-Allnutt: forces here. But they have
comments. Additionally,
I suspect that many of the had their TV, leaders and
@steve_757 [Replying to @GuardedDon A very if a state does not open
naysayers are fixated on politicians telling them that
'The importance of early worthwhile reminder of an investigation, there's a
the environmental aspects, they're on a 'war footing'
reporting[1]] Knowing certain nations’ deficient limited provision in ICAO
for several years now.
rather than the potentially what happened means performance. Annex 13 for State of
huge operational benefits we can amend any MH370 loss: Most recent Registration or Design/
which such a device could recommendations. update from Malaysia’s Manufacture to open an
@RAphotoVK RC-135 (now disbanded) Safety investigation.
provide. Hook this up to a
"accidentally" mistook Investigation Team – Unfortunately, there's no
small wind turbine or solar provision to compel a state
Black Sea for North Sea? 31/7/17.
array, and you could easily @SafetyAero The to provide a final report,
Metrojet KGL9268 loss:
charge it anywhere on Earth Egyptian authorities Most recent update from SARPs or otherwise.
without the need for finding have employed a dodge Egypt’s AAID team –
@dahedd_gs Romania, which the French BEA
fuel. Also, with no moving 15/11/15.
Hungary & Turkey [are] all have called their bluff on.
parts, I suspect that this
NATO allies; [it's] perfectly Egypt has no difference @SafetyAero There is
unit’s mean time before fine to be there. filed with ICAO; they can @Straker_64 There's no nothing to prevent an ICAO
failure and maintenance independently issue an report, ipso facto, there are Annex 13 investigation in
requirements are infinitely Annex 13 report without no conclusions or safety conjunction with a parallel
superior to a conventional @RAphotoVK If you look state intervention. criminal investigation. The
recommendations. Until an
unit too, meaning that you at the flights I don't see Annex 13 compliant report investigations are mutually
would likely need fewer of ANY Romania, Hungary or is issued it's all guess work. exclusive. Withholding the
them. These units will also Turkey around the tracks. @cauchiphilippe Who For a fire to cause a loss publication of the report
run silently too, reducing Imagine what an outcry has something to hide? of control in flight with a fuels speculation.
noise levels and making it there would have been if Airbus or the Egyptian probability of 10-7of the The BEA letter to the
Russian ships and aircraft government? flight control system failing, Egyptian authorities
easier to communicate. The
were around UK ADIZ on something is up. emphasised this.
list of positives could go a daily basis!
on. But if you want to sell
people on these things, it’s
important to emphasise the
Top award for alta team President at ASPA Dinner
operational benefits. Tim Robinson/RAeS
The RAeS is pleased to with additional support from
announce that alta[2], an Boeing UK, GKN, Collins
industry-wide mentoring Aerospace and Raytheon.
scheme recognised for "Since its launch in 2019,
empowering women in alta has seen continuous and
aviation, has won the positive growth and to be
2022 Economic and recognised in this way by the
Social Research Council ESRC is a true testament to
Outstanding Business and the hard work from the alta
Enterprise Impact Award. steering group and the team,"
'Urning' a crust This very prestigious said RAeS Education, Skills
prize acknowledges the & Diversity Manager Nicholas RAeS President Peter the Air Staff ACM Sir Mike
@Chris_Co1e [Replying collaboration between the Davis. "We hope to continue Round (left) attended the Wigston (right) presented a
to 'Business helps Royal Aeronautical Society, building the platform so that annual Air & Space Power special ASPA award to AVM
mourners scatter ashes by the University of the West many more women in the Association dinner in Paul Godfrey, who became
drone']. Well we all have to of England, Airbus, the RAF industry can feel empowered London on 10 November. the first commander of UK
'urn' a crust I suppose! and Little Blue Private Jets, in their careers.” During the event, Chief of Space Command in 2021.
1. https://www.aerosociety.com/news/the-importance-of-early-reporting-egyptair-flight-ms804/
2. https://www.aerosociety.com/get-involved/alta-mentoring/
DECEMBER 2022 13DEFENCE
Tempest update
Wind of change
BAE Systems
In October, the RAeS hosted senior members of the Team Tempest consortium
and MoD officials for an exclusive roundtable update on the FCAS programme.
STEPHEN BRIDGEWATER reports.
F
our years on from the reveal of the ‘What’ and ‘why’?
UK Tempest (or more correctly Future
Combat Air System or FCAS) fighter Air Cdre Jonny Moreton, FCAS Portfolio Director,
programme at the 2018 Farnborough explained the operational requirements for this future
Airshow, the project is now accelerating in fighter ‘system’, saying “the end state here is one of
its concept and assessment (C&A) phase. an agile, adaptable, combat air system that can meet
With billions set to be invested in this highly a threat that is moving at a pace that our current
advanced fighter project, Tempest will not only combat air systems cannot cope with.”
provide the RAF with a highly capable next- With FCAS, the MoD and RAF have worked
generation combat air capability, it is also projected to hand in glove with industry partners from the outset.
support thousands of British jobs and a PwC report Air Cdre Moreton emphasised that by working with
assesses it could make a £26.2bn contribution to the industry, the MoD was ensuring that it was “building
UK economy by 2050[1]. something with a philosophy that means it needs to
In late October, key partner members convened be adaptable from day one.”
at No.4 Hamilton Place for an RAeS-hosted He went on: “With that in mind, we don’t talk
roundtable discussion. Themed ‘The role of about FOC [full operational capability]. No such thing
Tempest in delivering the next generation of the exists anymore. We talk about in service dates and
UK’s Sovereign Combat Air Sector’, the afternoon an IOC [initial operating capability] – but from then
was chaired by AEROSPACE Editor-in-Chief, Tim on, we talk about an upgrade path that just continues
Robinson and saw senior members of the MoD and to meet the pace with the threat.”
the RAF engage in candid and frank discussion with One of the biggest questions surrounding
industry and supply chain representatives. the Tempest project since it was announced was
UK MoD’s Director of Future Combat Air, Richard whether the ‘core platform’ will be crewed, uncrewed
Berthon began by bringing the room up to date or optionally crewed? “As it stands, we currently plan
with progress towards the goal of a 2035 entry to have a pilot in the cockpit in 2035,” revealed Air
into service date. “We went through an approval Cdre Moreton. “However, by 2050 that person might
to launch the concept and assessment phase and not be there as technology, specifically autonomy
we’re broadly halfway through that at this point,” and artificial intelligence, might have advanced.
he explained. “This is looking at system concepts We, therefore, need to have a programme that’s
Opposite page:
and defining what are our future threats and future adaptable enough to allow us to do that. We don’t The high-level roundtable
opportunities, enabling us to work out what we want just focus on 2035, because that’s just the start of discussion took place at
to do and who we want as our international partners.” the journey.” RAeS HQ.
14 AEROSPACEThe ‘how’, not just the ‘what’
Meanwhile, as one of the core Team Tempest
partners, Herman Claesen, BAE Systems, FCAS
Managing Director provided additional information
on recent progress: “Despite the Covid interruption
we have continued to ramp things up in the UK and
there are now more than 2,000 people working on
FCAS, something that’s growing on a weekly basis.
Around 70% of those jobs are also outside London
and the south-east of the UK, which helps with the
government’s ‘levelling up’ agenda.”
“This programme is not just about delivering
a product that the RAF needs in response to the
operational requirements of the future,” he continued.
“The ‘how’ is equally important as the ‘what’. The
UK is extremely well-placed with the technical
knowledge and experience it has, along with the
support from government. We are on track to be
potentially one of the only nations – together with our
international partners – to achieve the goal of a next-
generation fighter by 2035. We are starting to see
evidence with the way we are de-risking technology
and building a low-observable supersonic technology
demonstrator. That is already demonstrating tangibly
how we are taking years out of the programme in
terms of timescale and costs.”
“If you compare the computing power available in
the 1980s and 90s with our approach to digital data
today it is a huge leap,” Claesen explained. “We’ve
focused on model-based systems engineering
(MBSE) using open architectures, creating digital
twins, and using virtual environments to literally ‘left
shift’ the technology risk from where it typically is
at the back end of the life cycle to the front end of
the life cycle. In effect, we are ‘virtually’ starting the
flight tests in the first half of the first quarter of the
programme instead of the end.” In fact, BAE Systems
has already ‘flown’ the technology demonstrator for
hundreds of hours in what he referred to as a ‘high
fidelity virtual environment.’
Rob Edmunds, Head of Transformation at partner
company Leonardo UK agreed: “The pace has been
unlike any other programme that has gone before,”
he declared. “From a sensor point of view we’ve gone
from real ‘blue sky thinking’ to simulations, worked
out which other directions to explore, progressed the
technology readiness level and now we’re looking
at the support capabilities and where we might take
things in the future.”
Berthon emphasised that this swift pace is
fundamental to the project. “When it comes to
performance, time and cost we are prioritising
pace because of its direct impact on cost,” he told
the room. “We’re also prioritising pace because
it gives us the chance to get the capabilities and
services the RAF needs and then rapidly upgrade
and incrementally deliver them. The pace of the
Stephen Bridgewater/RAeS
programme is, therefore, what defines affordability
and allows us to get out into the market.”
DECEMBER 2022 15DEFENCE
Tempest update
International collaboration Meanwhile, the fast-moving geopolitical
environment and UK economic and political
Meanwhile, since its launch in 2018, the project has uncertainty have also presented a challenging
attracted significant international interest – with backdrop for this long-term aerospace project.
partnerships and collaboration announced with Italy, However, Berthon stressed that FCAS has high-level
Sweden and, most recently, Japan. buy-in.
“Work on selecting international partners is “There is a recognition that FCAS is so important
ongoing,” confirmed Berthon during the roundtable, to our sovereignty, our military capability, our
“but I think we are on the cusp and we are planning international influence and the UK’s prosperity. These
to make key decisions by the end of this year.” are challenging economic times and inflationary
However, thought must be given to the point in pressures are very real, but we’ve got a robust
the programme at which partners join. “The concept programme and we’ve got a proposal with international
and assessment phase will take us to 2025 after partners that attracts very significant investment.”
which we’ll move into the product development Add in the long-term export potential of the
and manufacturing phase” noted Claesen. ““There Tempest and the benefits to the UK economy really
are genuine practical considerations of bringing ramp up. “It’s also about the role of industries,” added
in additional partners during the ongoing concept Caroline Donaghy, Director of Defence at ADS. “There
and assessment phase as this would increase the is a whole supply chain network keen to get involved.
complexity of aligning requirements and we’re very So, ultimately, this must succeed and must move at
focused on maintaining the current momentum pace.”
on the programme. From a strategy perspective Meanwhile, with the war in Ukraine highlighting the
however, we do remain open to other partners joining need for ‘control of the air,’ Berthon also emphasised
the programme downstream.” to the delegates that the world finds itself in “an
However, it is important not to forget that this environment which is incredibly challenging. Future
is far from a one-horse race and there is significant economic stability is going to depend on national
competition in the international fighter marketplace. security and the role of the UK and NATO is going to The latest renders of the
The Franco-German FCAS/SCAF project and be ever more important.” Tempest core airframe,
the US’ Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) From an operational point of view, Air Cdre Moreton revealed at Farnborough
programme are also in development. Mark Miller, urged the room not to “fall into the trap of thinking what Airshow earlier this year
Director of UK Defence at GKN warned: “It’s a very is happening in Ukraine today is what the future looks show an altered outer
mould line. Team Tempest
competitive market and there’s not enough space for like. We have all learned some interesting lessons from insiders stress that this
three next-generation fighter programmes. There just the conflict but with FCAS we’re looking at threats shape may not in fact be
isn’t.” beyond the 15-20 year period.” the final configuration.
16 AEROSPACESustainability have made their career choice. We, therefore, need
to start approaching these youngsters while they
As well as future enemies, FCAS will also have are still at school and there is a huge marketing
to meet the sustainability challenge, said Rolls- effort required across the sector to engage with the
Royce’s Sustainability Executive, Andrew Eady. students and their support networks, teachers, and
THIS IS A “We’re looking at enabling supply chains around parents.”
green hydrogen fuels and the future role that Aileen Randhawa, HR Director at MBDA,
ONCE-IN-A-
synthetic fuels can play in the FCAS programme. If affirmed that it is not just marketing that is needed.
GENERATION you have access to water, and you can suck carbon “I’d describe it more as an education effort,” she told
OPPORTUNITY out of the air and use Fischer–Tropsch to create the room. “If you think about teacher training and
TO CHANGE a synthetic hydrocarbon that really starts to move the level of industry awareness that exists within
the conversation away from sustainability just being primary and secondary schools, as well as higher
THE WAY WE decarbonisation into something that improves your education facilities, it is quite limited. So industry
THINK ABOUT energy resilience and introduces fuel sovereignty. can actually play a really important part in providing
COMBAT A lot of the supply chains for these areas are just placements to expose those various young people
AIR FROM A emerging and are predominantly focused around to the reality of an engineering career.”
the north-east of Britain.” Randhawa emphasised that recruitment is
BUSINESS POINT “Our vision is that from 2035 we will be in a about having role models. “If, as a school child, I can
OF VIEW, AN position where we’ll be using significant levels of see a role model that I can identify with, I will then
ENGINEERING sustainable fuels,” agreed Air Cdre Moreton. aspire to be like them. We also must ask ourselves
On supply chain problems, Douglas Barrie, what skills we are looking for, because FCAS is
POINT OF VIEW
Senior Fellow at the International Institute for supposed to be transformative. Are those roles
AND FROM AN Strategic Studies, raised the thorny matter of supply STEM related and, even if they are, how do we
OPERATIONAL chain sensitivities, asking how far down the chain convince people to join the defence world rather
POINT OF VIEW manufacturers need to validate components. Barrie than other sectors?”
suggested that “whereas second, third and fourth
tier suppliers previously needed to be validated, this Recruiting the future
is now likely to change to fifth, sixth and seventh
tiers.” “The fact that we are employing from different
Team Tempest is now working with a supply socio-economic backgrounds and regional areas
chain of around 600 UK companies which, in part, helps,” admitted Claesen, “but we’re looking at
reduces the risks associated with the material opening regional offices and, perhaps, even regional
sourcing and physical delivery problems from engineering hubs to get access to the people we
overseas suppliers. need. Over the course of the project’s life cycle we
will need different types of employees. Now we need
Generation Tempest systems engineers and architects that can think at
BAE Systems
the macro level and create solutions. Fast forward
Meanwhile, there is evidence that this once-in- a couple of years and we will need the people to
a-generation project is inspiring a new cadre of execute the plan, write the code, programme the
apprentices and graduates to join ‘Generation robotics and the ‘cobotics’ and do all the testing, etc.
Tempest’ – substantially shifting the demographics So, whereas people have traditionally worked for
towards a younger workforce. us for life we perhaps need to get used to people
So far, more than 1,000 apprentices have been cycling through the business for three years and then
recruited by the Tempest partner companies since moving onto another career.”
the programme started and the BAE Systems He also emphasised that FCAS is already
graduates and apprenticeship programmes have actively engaged with close to 100 SMEs,
been oversubscribed every single year. “We’ve seen including “companies that we’ve never worked with
our FCAS workforce getting younger,” explained before in the gaming and motoring industries.”
Claesen, “with 40% being under 40 and 20% being Rolls-Royce Systems Designer James
under 30.” Davies was probably the youngest person at the
Nevertheless, Air Cdre David Tait, Defence roundtable and a member of the Tempest Early
Suppliers Forum Lead for People and Skills, MoD, Careers Network (TECN). He pointed out that
observed that aerospace and defence still struggles many of the roles needed to design, build, operate
to recruit the best talent. “I think we need to take a and maintain Tempest might not even be known
longer-term approach to the way we do workforce yet, such is the pace at which the technology
planning,” he surmised. “The City targets students and ideas are advancing. However, he admitted
in their first year at university, talks to them and that awareness is still a challenge. “We’ve taken
coaches them and gets them on internships within stands to events and find that it’s really about
the financial industry. The STEM sector normally communicating with an audience that doesn’t know
waits until year three, by which time the students that the opportunities to work in the sector exist.”
DECEMBER 2022 17You can also read
