The UK government, in partnership with industry, has announced a combined investment exceeding £250 million to propel cutting-edge aerospace technologies aimed at achieving greener air travel and securing the future of the UK’s aerospace sector. This significant funding will support advancements in areas such as gas turbines, hydrogen-powered flight, and laser technologies for large-scale aerostructure manufacturing.
Industry Minister Sarah Jones underscored the strategic importance of this investment. “This government is backing aerospace. This investment will keep it at the forefront of innovation, not only delivering economic growth but boosting the charge to net zero 2030, two key pillars of our Plan for Change,” stated Minister Jones. She added that this initiative is a “latest win for British aerospace” ahead of the forthcoming Industrial Strategy, designed to “turbocharge growth” in advanced manufacturing and defense, creating high-skilled jobs across the UK.
The announcement follows recent figures from ADS, the UK aerospace industry’s trade association, revealing the sector contributed £13.6 billion to the economy last year—a nearly 50% increase since 2014—and supports 100,000 direct jobs. In 2024, the sector recorded an annual turnover of £34 billion and a record £1.9 billion in business R&D, driven by sustainable technology and manufacturing advancements.
During her visit to the Paris Air Show, Minister Jones is scheduled to tour the UK pavilion and engage with leading aerospace companies, including Airbus, Rolls-Royce, and GKN. These meetings will focus on attracting further investment, promoting the UK’s research and development capabilities, and exploring government support for increased manufacturing and operations within the UK.
The Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) Programme continues to benefit small and medium-sized businesses, with over 302 companies receiving support since 2013. Nineteen additional businesses are contributing over £22.8 million to innovation as part of today’s announcement.
