GKN Aerospace has signed multiple new collaboration contracts at this year’s Farnborough Airshow.
The company has signed a new technology collaboration with German start-up VÆRIDION at the Farnborough Airshow, focused on advancing aerostructures and electrical wiring interconnection systems (EWIS) for VÆRIDION’s all-electric microliner aircraft. VÆRIDION is pioneering the development of a nine-passenger-plus-crew all-electric microliner designed for distances up to 500 kilometres. The aircraft will serve as a use case for innovative EWIS technology programmes aimed at electrically powered aircraft, pushing the boundaries of current aerospace capabilities. GKN Aerospace will leverage its extensive multi-technology and manufacturing expertise to support VÆRIDION in airframe concept and electrical systems studies, including the optimisation of the microliner’s airframe design and functionality to ensure the highest standards of performance and efficiency.
In addition to its work with VÆRIDION, GKN Aerospace continues its commitment to advancing sustainable high-performance wing technologies through its collaboration with Airbus, Cranfield University and the University of Manchester on Airbus’ SusWingS development programme. This £15 million project, supported by £8 million from the ATI, is dedicated to creating high-performance wings and environmentally conscious manufacturing processes. The SusWingS programme builds on the technologies developed in the Wing of Tomorrow suite of projects and introduces innovative advancements to prepare the UK aerospace industry for a sustainable future. Since 2020, GKN Aerospace has been a key player in the Airbus-led Wing of Tomorrow programme, which aims to revolutionise aircraft wing design. Over the past two years, GKN Aerospace has successfully delivered three Fixed Trailing Edge assemblies to Airbus, which are now integral components of three full-scale Wing of Tomorrow demonstrators being tested at Airbus’ advanced facilities in Broughton and Filton, UK. The SusWingS initiative addresses a comprehensive range of topics in wing design and manufacturing, including the development of single-sided fasteners for one-way assembly, advancements in carbon fibre composite materials, and state-of-the-art numerical analysis models for predicting structural behaviour.
Furthermore, GKN Aerospace has signed a collaboration agreement with Swiss company H55, a technological spin-off of Solar Impulse, at the Farnborough Airshow . H55 specialises in developing electric propulsion systems (EPS’) and batteries for electric and hybrid aircraft. This collaboration focuses on the design, development, certification, and industrialisation of EWIS for EPS’. H55 has developed an EPS that includes an energy storage system (ESS) comprising battery packs, battery management systems and all interfaces, as well as an electric propulsion unit (EPU) featuring a motor and motor controller. The H55 EPS has already been integrated and flown in four different types of aircraft. GKN Aerospace contributes its expertise and experience as a global first-tier supplier of electrical wiring interconnection systems (EWIS) and has been at the forefront of developing innovative high-voltage, high-power EWIS solutions for electrically powered aircraft.
