The United Kingdom has built a sterling reputation for excelling in aircraft manufacturing, which is in large part due to ongoing partnerships with private companies and the Ministry of Defense. Recent investment in the sector could also mean countless new opportunities in a field that combines engineering and tech. Here are some of the top U.K. aerospace companies to keep an eye on.
Top Aerospace Companies in the UK
- BAE Systems
- Airbus
- Rolls-Royce
- Lockheed Martin
- General Electric
Aerospace Companies in the UK
BAE Systems is the U.K.’s largest provider and manufacturer of defense aircrafts and other combat technologies. The company has multiple facilities throughout the U.K. and it employs tens of thousands of workers. Some of its other developments include surveillance systems, combat ships and radar.
GKN Aerospace is a leading aerospace supplier that designs and provides systems, components and technologies for defense and commercial aircraft, including helicopters, business jets and passenger planes. With its technology featured on over 100,000 flights daily, the company operates 41 manufacturing sites across 13 countries.
With an office in northern Lambeth, London, Anduril provides AI-powered technology for the defense industry. It describes Lattice OS, its central offering, as “an autonomous sensemaking and command and control platform.” The company partners with military-based organizations that include the U.K. Ministry of Defence and the U.S. Department of Defense.
Lockheed Martin is an aerospace and defense company with expertise in aircraft, satellite and cyber technologies. In the U.K., Lockheed Martin has been influential in developing armored vehicles and aircrafts like the F-35 Lighting. It’s also initiated partnerships for space exploration opportunities.
Rolls-Royce has a long history of manufacturing luxury vehicles, but since the Second World War, it has also used its engineering prowess to develop jet engines. The company’s high-performance engines are designed to reduce carbon emissions and many of those engines have made their way onto civilian and defense aircrafts as well. Apart from its traditional engines, the company is exploring the possibility of electric-powered propulsion systems.
Vertical Aerospace is an electric aviation company, developing the United Kingdom’s first all-electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, or eVTOL. The company’s mission is to revolutionize air travel by offering a quieter, more sustainable alternative to traditional aviation. It’s headquartered in Bristol, England.
Hyde Precision Components manufactures complex parts for the aerospace and defense industries, specializing in multi-axis machining and turning of components in both hard and soft metals. The company remains headquartered in Manchester, England, where it was founded.
Butterfly specializes in innovative seating concepts for air, rail and road transportation. The system offers a premium economy or regional business class experience when both seats are upright. The staggered seating arrangement increases passenger comfort by providing extra width, as the passengers’ elbows are offset from one another.
Laser Prototypes Europe is a 3D printing and rapid prototyping company with over 30 years of experience in the industry. Based in Belfast, Ireland, it offers a range of 3D printing processes, including stereolithography, selective laser sintering, metal sintering, digital light processing, vacuum casting and more. The company works across a range of industries, namely offering turnkey prototyping and sustainable production for aerospace components.
AerospaceHV provides design and testing services for companies developing high-voltage systems for aerospace applications. Specializing in partial discharge testing, insulation life assessment and tracking testing, the company supports the qualification of components to ensure quality during serial production.
Southwest Airlines is a lower-cost commercial airline that flies to over 120 airports in the United States and surrounding countries. Since its founding more than 50 years ago, the company has grown to a team of over 28,000 employees, with offices in the United States and Northern Ireland.
Airbus is an aerospace manufacturer working in the commercial and defense sectors. In the U.K., Airbus is a supplier of large aircraft for the Royal Air Force and helicopters for civil use. In recent years, Airbus has invested in sustainable aircrafts and is developing a hydrogen-powered airliner.
GE Aerospace is a division of General Electric that develops propulsion systems and aircraft engines. Besides manufacturing its products, GE Aerospace’s other offerings include engine maintenance and testing services. It has also invested in decarbonization tech for commercial aircrafts as sustainability becomes a major focus for the organization.
In 1958, Gulfstream Aerospace entered the aviation industry with the creation of the Gulfstream I, the first “purpose-built” business aircraft. Today, the company operates a global fleet of over 3,000 aircrafts. In partnership with its parent company, General Dynamics, Gulfstream continues to expand its lineup, which includes models such as the Gulfstream G280, Gulfstream G650 and Gulfstream G650ER.
Rocket launch vehicle manufacturer Skyrora aims to provide flexible, sovereign launch capabilities. The company develops orbital vehicles and supply chain innovations to launch rockets that place satellites into orbit, acting as a “taxi” service for satellite deployment.
Based in Manchester, Castle Metals supplies metals, processing, and supply chain solutions to manufacturers and machine shops worldwide. Its core product offerings include key components for the aerospace industry, including alloy, carbon, stainless steel, aluminum, nickel and cast iron. The company also provides a wide range of processing services, including cutting, heat treating, turning, machining, trepanning and more.
Since its founding in 1985, Marlborough Engineering has designed, manufactured and supported parts and structures for the aerospace, defense and security, shipbuilding and medical industries. The company is headquartered in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
NATS delivers air traffic control services for more than 2.5 million flights and 250 million passengers annually across the United Kingdom and the North Atlantic. Founded in 1962, the company has grown to employ over 3,000 people and operates from two offices in England, located in London and Fareham.
Having acquired Gogo in 2020, Intelsat is a provider of inflight broadband connectivity for the commercial aviation industry. The company’s inflight Wi-Fi delivers internet access and video entertainment to passengers, regardless of travel distance. Headquartered in the United States, Intelsat operates 20 offices globally, including a location in London.
AeroCloud develops modular and intelligent airport operations software. Its cloud-native platform leverages predictive AI and machine learning to help airports operate more efficiently and cost-effectively. The company is headquartered in Stockport, England.
Related Articles
Explore Our UK Coverage
Built In London | Built In Manchester | Built In Bristol | Built In Edinburgh | Built In Belfast |
