Powering ahead with electric flight plans

BAE Systems is looking to supercharge its future with investment in the military potential of electric flight.

The defence giant, which employs around 10,000 people across Lancashire, is actively exploring the commercial potential of emissionfree flight technologies on several fronts, with predictions the global military market could be worth as much as £2bn by 2040.

It is now working with several companies, including Brazil’s Embraer and Pipistrel Aircraft, which is owned by US giant Textron Aviation, to examine the potential military applications for ‘sustainable aviation’.

BAE Systems’ Air chief operating officer Ian Muldowney says: “We see a real opportunity in electric products and sustainable aviation, whether that’s in the basic trainer market, eVTOL, heavy-lift or unmanned applications.”

The business is currently collaborating with Slovenia’s light aircraft manufacturer Pipistrel, to explore the development of a lightweight electric powered aircraft that could be used as a basic trainer by air forces.

The project has already seen some early evaluation test flights in the skies over Lancashire.

BAE Systems and commercial aerospace company Embraer announced their collaboration at Farnborough International Air Show earlier this year.

One of the aims is to create a joint venture to develop a defence variant of Embraer subsidiary Eve’s electrical vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicle.

Jackson Schneider, president and chief executive of Embraer Defense and Security, says: “Teams from BAE Systems and Embraer will continue working together to explore how the aircraft, designed for the urban mobility market, can provide cost-effective, sustainable and adaptable capability as a defence variant.”

BAE Systems is also working with UK firm Malloy Aeronautics on the development of an all-electric ‘heavy lift’ uncrewed air system (UAS), with recent activity focusing on assessing battery technology and lift capability.

It believes the UAS could have a range of military applications, including anti-submarine warfare, the automated resupply of ships and combat troops, search and rescue operations and casualty evacuations.

Neil Appleton, head of electronic products at BAE Systems Air division, says the company’s strategy is based on partnering with civil sector experts to translate products into the military market.

He says: “The commercial sector has already made significant investment in electrification and it would be cost prohibitive for us to do this without having access to the civil market.”

The initial Pipistrel evaluation test flights took place at BAE Systems’ Warton plant in Lancashire this summer.

Neil, who is based at Warton, says: “This allows us to explore the potential applications for electric flight and to gain a better understanding of how this technology can be used to support our customers.”