Defence
At GKN Aerospace we shape the Future of Flight. With our innovative technologies and our unique global network, we provide our defence customers across the world with systems and components that make aircraft fly faster, further and greener.
Fixed wing
We ensure that customers have our cutting edge solutions available wherever and whenever they need it. Our portfolio ranges from the F-15, F-16 and F-18 combat aircraft to the F-35 and from SAAB Gripen to the worlds most advanced six-generation fighters. Watch this video to see how GKN Aerospace contributes to Lockheed’s Martin F-35 Lightning II fifth generation aircraft.
Rotorcraft and Future Vertical Lift
GKN Aerospace’s position as a global technology leader in aerostructures, EWIS and landing gear, is meeting the needs of medium and heavy lift platforms as well as transport and combat rotorcraft. Our involvement ranges from Chinook to Apache and from NH90 to V280. As a consortium partner in the NH90 partnership, we manufacture the composite tail, landing gear and door of the NH90, the most successful European helicopter.
Space
GKN Aerospace has developed and manufactured innovative and competitive spacecraft solutions for more than 30 years. Our breakthrough technologies in additive manufacturing, lightweight composites and smart engine systems are used in the manufacturing of engine launch structures and engine components. We have been involved in the Ariane programme, one of the most successful launch vehicles in the world, since 1989. Our reliable systems and components range from aerostructures, and electrical wiring systems to engine components– GKN Aerospace is ready to provide solutions for customers and their programmes around the globe.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
We are a key supplier for UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle)/ RPAS (Remotely Piloted Aircraft System) programmes. Our long-term involvement supports the growth in this segment of the defence market. The market and technology leadership of GKN Aerospace in advanced aerostructures, EWIS and lightweight technologies, has demonstrated to be a strong fit with the requirement s of the UAV OEM’s. For Market leader GA-ASI we design and build fuel bladders, composite landing gear and the composite tail for the MQ-9B SkyGuardian®.
Missiles
GKN Aerospace’s is the manufacturer of lightweight re-usable missile canisters, structural components and missile EWIS and leverages a long history of manufacturing high-quality components for manufacturers like Raytheon and Lockheed Martin. Our lightweight re-useable missile canisters are manufactured through a unique process of filament winding followed by vacuum infusion.
Solutions and MRO
GKN Aerospace develops, builds and supplies an extensive range of advanced aerospace systems, components and technologies – for use in aircraft ranging from business jets, helicopters and military aircraft to the most used single aisles and the largest passenger planes in the world.
Products and capabilities
GKN Aerospace continues to invest a significant proportion of its R&D spend each year on enhancing fuel efficiency and reducing emissions within aircraft.
GKN Aerospace has an established operation supplying fuselage structures and detailed components in composites and metallic, including integrated floor assemblies, hinges, inflight opening doors, flaperons, wing trailing and leading edges.
GKN Aerospace designs and produces tails and aft sections for military helicopters, examples are NH90 and the Chinook rotorcraft . The NH90 is equipped with a full composite tail structure, including the leading edge of the horizontal tail plane.
GKN provides wiring harness packages for an extensive range of defence aircraft and military aircraft engines. GKN Aerospace has designed, produced and delivered the wiring harness packages for all F-35 aircraft that are currently flying and in production. GKN Aerospace’s proprietary wiring design and manufacturing system provides a unique and innovative toolset to support aircraft and engine manufacturers worldwide.
For more than 30 years, GKN Aerospace specialists have gathered competencies in design, development and production, as well as repair and overhaul, of landing gear systems for helicopters and airplanes. GKN Aerospace delivers exceptional value to its customers through tailored designs, optimized development processes, rigorous qualification and certification standards, cutting-edge production technologies and maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) capabilities.
The Fighter canopy is produced from a single piece of stretched acrylic, with no steps or gaps in the outside mould line. Specialty coatings are applied to maintain low-observable characteristics and each unit is supplied coated, trimmed and drilled, with bushings and seals ready for installation to the frame.
GKN Aerospace supplies full turnkey fuel systems packages from fuel storage to engine feed, as well as flexible fuel bladders, crashworthy and self-sealing systems and rotationally moulded tanks, and range extender tanks, incorporating explosive suppressant and anti-slosh technology when required. GKN Aerospace also offers the most rapid self-sealing capability on the market today.
GKN Aerospace offers complete ice protection system design and test expertise, including comprehensive in-house icing tunnel test facilities. The company has the capacity for high volume manufacture of electro-thermal ice protection systems and is exploiting its composites manufacturing experience in exploring potential applications for this hugely versatile technology across applications such as flight control surfaces, engine and equipment inlets and helicopter rotor blades.
Our customers
GKN Aerospace is well positioned on many military platforms. Our solutions are on board of aircraft ranging from helicopters and fighters to the most advanced UAV’s in the world. Our global customer base spans the majority of defence OEM’s. With our unique network of sites we can serve our customers wherever and whenever they need us.
| Airbus | Boeing Defence | GA-ASI General Atomics Aeronautical Systems |
| Honeywell | Lockheed Martin | Northrop Grumman Corporation |
| NHIndustries | Pratt & Whitney | Raytheon Technologies |
Our fighter programs
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Lockheed Martin F-16 |
Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter programme |
Boeing F-15 Eagle and F/A-18 Hornet |
Saab Gripen |
Tempest 6th generation |
Other markets
GKN Aerospace develops, builds and supplies an extensive range of advanced aerospace systems, components and technologies for some of the largest passenger planes and military aircraft in the world.
DEFENCE AVIATION CONTACTS
For any customer queries or questions relating to Defence Aviation please follow the link below to connect with an expert.