UK funds two Airbus projects

The UK Department for Business Innovations and Skills (BIS) has funded Airbus Helicopters for two separate projects, the company announced on 17 November. The projects mark the first time the company has participated in UK government-led industrial development.

The first project is valued at £2 million and is supported by the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI).

Under this project, Airbus Helicopters will partner with Cranfield University, BHR Group and SME Helitune. The project aims to develop technologies to measure blade deformations in flight. A unique tool will be created for future research into rotorcraft blade dynamics that will allow engineers to actively monitor rotor blade performance during flight tests. This is hoped to positively impact flight safety, operations and maintenance, and contribute towards reductions in point-to-point travel time. 

Under the second project, valued at £1.2 million and supported by BIS' Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative, Airbus Helicopters will partner with NetComposites under the Dual Use Technology Exploitation cluster, to develop and produce lower weight, lower cost helicopter armour at an increased rate and enable more flexibility in military helicopter design.

This project aims to help bring maturity to existing technologies, shortening the time to market from 15 years down to three; and it is hoped that the technology will also have the potential to be used more widely in areas such as personal protection and body armour.

Anna Soubry, Business Minister of the UK, said, ‘Airbus Helicopters is the largest turbine helicopter manufacturer in the world and these innovative projects backed by government can only strengthen our capabilities in this field. The government will continue to back our world leading aerospace sector to keep driving innovation, economic growth and creating skilled jobs.’