The UK aerospace industry's contribution to Airbus programmes is in danger of eroding further unless the new government continues to invest in composite aerostructures research and technology.
That is the warning from aerospace and defence trade body ADS, which says the fact the UK no longer has a shareholding in the EADS-owned airframer through BAE Systems means it cannot rely on its traditional 20% workshare on future programmes.
A failure to invest in composite research a decade ago led to Broughton- and Filton-based Airbus UK and its suppliers losing some of their pre-eminence in wing design, receiving between 12-14% of the A350 in value terms, with the Spanish and German operations, most notably, taking on responsibility for wing skins. BAE sold its one-fifth stake in Airbus to EADS in 2006.
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"In the old metal days that would have been done in the UK. If we're not careful that could slip further and it is due to under-investment 10 years ago," says ADS managing director Graham Chisnall. "Back then Airbus was saying the UK was not at the leading edge of composite technology."
He was encouraged by the response of the previous government, which began to recognise the importance of developing composite expertise and devoted funds to R&T. "Airbus are not saying that now," he says.
However, speaking at the publication of the organisation's 2010 aerospace industry survey on the eve of the Farnborough air show, ADS chairman Ian Godden maintained that the country's coalition administration must keep up the momentum.
"Our message to the new government is don't forget [allocating Airbus workshare] is a country to country competition, not a free market. Every government invests taxpayer money into R&T and competes government to government," he says.
Chisnall adds: "We're good at wings. We're the best. We're also good at engines and complicated airframe systems. But we've got to continue investing in these and that requires the government to facilitate early enabling technologies."
Source: Flight International