The UK government is providing £250 million for green aerospace projects

photo: Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay
 In the United Kingdom, the aerospace sector will receive more than £250 million in funding for cutting-edge technology projects aimed at making air transport more sustainable, Industry Minister Sarah Jones announced at the 2025 Paris Air Show. This amount will come from joint government and industry funding, drawn from the £975 million allocated to the ATI programme (a joint government and industry investment) by the government for the period 2025-2030.

The funding aims at helping to secure the future of the UK’s aerospace sector. Among the technologies involved are advancements in gas turbines, hydrogen-powered flight and laser technologies used in large-scale aerostructure manufacturing.

Recently, new figures from ADS, the trade organisation representing the aerospace, defence, security and space industries in the United Kingdom, showed the UK’s aerospace sector contributed £13.6 billion ($US18.26 billion) to the economy in 2024, which is an increase of almost 50 percent compared to 2014. The sector employs 100,000 people.

This investment into the UK’s aerospace sector will attract others, hopes the UK Government.

“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.

This is the latest win for British aerospace in the run-up to the launch of our Industrial Strategy, which will turbocharge growth in our advanced manufacturing and defence sectors to take them to new heights, bringing new high-skilled jobs to every corner of the UK,” says Industry Minister Sarah Jones.

In the UK, smaller and medium size businesses still benefit from the ATI Programme, with more than 302 of them receiving this support since 2013.

The UK aerospace sector had an annual turnover of £34 billion ($US45.65 billion) in 2024 and spent £1.9 billion ($US2.55 billion) on business R&D, which is a record.

“Gas turbines are an engine for growth for the UK economy. We welcome the recognition of the technology’s vital role from the Government in supporting both national and economic security.

Together, government and industry investment in future gas turbine technologies will enhance the UK’s global competitiveness and help secure UK jobs and exports for the decades ahead,” Rolls-Royce Director of Research & Technology Alan Newby said.

“It’s terrific to see ATI funding allocated to projects like our ZeroE Development Centre (ZEDC) that will be built at Airbus Filton, and for DecSAM which builds on the industry’s additive manufacturing capabilities.

It’s initiatives like these that are absolutely critical to accelerating our decarbonisation journey and advancing sustainable, cutting-edge manufacturing. The continued ATI funding provides the UK aerospace industry with the confidence and stability it needs to fuel innovation,” Airbus UK Chairman John Harrison said.

“Today’s funding announcement, including our dedicated small and medium-sized company grants, supports critical world-leading research – vital to ensuring UK aerospace companies continue to provide great jobs and growth in future, whilst delivering on our ambitious environmental goals. This is a huge vote of confidence in UK aerospace and in British aerospace companies,” Aerospace Technology Institute Chief Innovation Officer Paul Adams said.

In total between 2013 and 2030, industry and government will invest over £5 billion ($US6.71 billion) to develop transformational aircraft technology to secure and grow UK jobs and reduce harmful aviation emissions.

Specific investments announced include:

1. “ZEROe Development Centre Capital and Infrastructure Phase 2 (ZEDC) 
   Led by Airbus, this project develops infrastructure for testing liquid hydrogen fuel systems and structural components to support zero-emission aircraft technologies. It builds on Phase 1 and enables research into cryogenic storage and fuel system performance. Total cost: £35 million
2. Aerothermal netZero TEChnologies (Aztec) 
   Rolls-Royce and academic partners aim to improve engine efficiency and reduce CO₂ emissions for next-generation turbofan engines. Key innovations include improved low-speed fan, novel compressor, and ultra-highly loaded turbine. Total cost: £20.7 million
3. Digitally Enabled Competitive and Sustainable Additive Manufacturing (DecSAM) 
   Airbus and partners are scaling up Laser Powder Bed Fusion Additive Manufacturing to make it more cost-effective and sustainable. The project focuses on validating this method for broader aerospace adoption. Total cost: £38 million
4. Hydrogen Efficient fuel cell InteGrated in a High Temperature System (HEIGHTS) 
   Led by Intelligent Energy, this project develops a high-temperature hydrogen fuel cell system for aviation, targeting improved efficiency and reduced drag. It enhances cooling through direct water injection to shrink heat exchanger size by up to 40%.Total cost: £17 million
5. LATCAP 
   Datum Tool Designs and Queen’s University Belfast will create a new innovation facility focused on CNC tooling for large composite structures. This will strengthen the UK’s capability in advanced manufacturing for aerospace. Total cost: £6.3 million
6. ISLAA 
   GKN Aerospace and partners aim to advance large-scale additive manufacturing using laser metal deposition by wire. The project targets reduced costs, lead times, and emissions in aero-structure production. Total cost: £10.5 million
7. High Rate Manufacture Capital Acquisition (HRMCap) 
   The National Composites Centre will establish open-access facilities to support high-rate manufacturing of large composite structures like wing covers. This will also benefit other aerospace applications such as fan cases and air mobility platforms. Total cost: £15.8 million
8. Hot End Technology Phase 3 (HT3P3) 
   Rolls-Royce is developing advanced cooling technologies for engine hot sections to reduce fuel burn. These innovations will be tested under high-stress, real-world conditions to prepare them for service. Total cost: £34.3 million
9. REPLENISH 
   Rolls-Royce and partners are creating advanced aftermarket services to improve maintenance and reduce costs for civil aeroengines. The project includes innovations in inspection, repair, and digital monitoring. Total cost: £33.1 million
10. EcoSuite 
    Safran and collaborators are developing lightweight, sustainable materials and processes for next-gen Business and First Class aircraft seating. The goal is to cut weight, cost, and environmental impact while enhancing passenger experience. Total cost: £7.6 million
11. Liquid Hydrogen System Integration for Flight Testing (LH-SIFT) 
    ZeroAvia and partners will develop and flight-test a liquid hydrogen fuel system on a commercial aircraft platform. This project aims to establish the UK as a leader in cryogenic aviation fuel systems. Total cost: £10.8 million

Full list of investments: 

1. DRAGonFLY (Actuation Lab & Cranfield University)
   This project is developing a special valve to control the flow of super-cold liquid hydrogen for future zero-emission aircraft. It aims to support cleaner aviation by improving hydrogen fuel systems.
2. STAR (Advanced Manufacturing & partners)
   The STAR project is creating a new gas shielding device that removes the need for expensive argon chambers in manufacturing. This will lower costs and allow for the production of larger components.
3. REIT (AerospaceHV)
   REIT is building test facilities to help certify electrical systems used in high-voltage aerospace machines. This will support the development of future electric aircraft.
4. PACE-AM (Alloyed & Brunel University)
   This project is improving the use of strong aluminium alloys in 3D printing for aerospace parts. It aims to make aircraft components lighter and more efficient to produce.
5. HiRACOS (Carbon ThreeSixty & partners)
   HiRACOS is developing fast and efficient composite materials for use in next-generation aircraft. The goal is to speed up production for advanced air mobility and narrowbody planes.
6. LoCAP (CKPD)
   LoCAP is working on lightweight, non-metallic aircraft parts using new materials. This will help UK aerospace companies make better quality parts faster and at lower cost.
7. MACH2INE (Darvick & Cranfield University)
   This project is creating machines to test materials used in hydrogen-powered aircraft. It will help ensure these materials are safe and reliable for flight.
8. SPCLH2 (Enoflex Ltd. & partners)
   SPCLH2 is designing lightweight composite pipes to carry liquid hydrogen in aircraft, replacing heavy steel ones. These new pipes will reduce aircraft weight and improve fuel efficiency.
9. DAA (Hover Inc.)
   DAA is developing smart onboard computers with AI for future autonomous and hybrid-electric aircraft. These systems will improve safety and performance.
10. GENACOM (iCOMAT & University of Sheffield)
    GENACOM is creating new ways to design and build curved composite parts for aircraft using a patented process. This will result in lighter, more sustainable aerospace structures.
11. AAIFC (Luffy AI & University of Southampton)
    This project is using AI to make flight control systems safer and more adaptable. It opens up new design possibilities for future aircraft.
12. MAMBA (NEMA LTD & University of Nottingham)
    MAMBA is developing advanced magnetic bearings for aerospace use, which are more reliable and fault-tolerant. These will be tested in real-world turbo-compressor systems.
13. MB HeX FC (Qdot Technology & Atomik AM)
    This project is using metal 3D printing to improve radiators and heat exchangers in hydrogen fuel-cell aircraft. The goal is to make these systems more efficient and compact.
14. FEEAD (Scintam Engineering)
    FEEAD is improving a machining technique to safely remove stuck fasteners during aircraft engine maintenance. This will make repairs quicker and safer.
15. Sora Aero (Sora Aviation & Universities of Bristol and Manchester)
    Sora Aero is developing AI-powered tools to simulate how aircraft behave in flight. These tools will help design better zero-emission aircraft.
16. BatWing (Sora Aviation & University of Bath)
    BatWing is creating lightweight battery packs and new ways to safely attach them to aircraft wings. This supports the move to electric-powered flight.
17. MEFSVS (Ultima Forma & GKN Aerospace)
    MEFSVS is replacing heavy outer jackets on hydrogen fuel tanks with lighter, advanced materials. This will reduce aircraft weight and simplify manufacturing.
18. SPARR (Zero Emissions Aerospace Ltd. & partners)
    SPARR is developing a hydrogen propulsion system for various aircraft types, including airships and eVTOLs. It aims to cut emissions and lower operating costs.”