The aerospace industry of the United Kingdom is the second-largest national aerospace industry in the world (after the United States) and the largest in Europe by turnover,[1][2][3] with a global market share of 17% in 2019. In 2020, the industry employed 116,000 people.[4][5]
Domestic companies with a large presence in the British aerospace industry include Airbus (through its Airbus UK subsidiary), BAE Systems (the world's fourth-largest defence contractor),[6][7] Britten-Norman, GKN, Hybrid Air Vehicles, Meggitt PLC, QinetiQ, Rolls-Royce (the world's second-largest maker of aero engines),[8] Senior plc, MBDA (through its MBDA UK subsidiary) and Ultra Electronics. Foreign companies with a major presence include Boeing (through its Boeing UK subsidiary), GE Aviation (through its GE Aviation Systems subsidiary), Leonardo, Lockheed Martin (through its Lockheed Martin UK subsidiary), Safran (through its Safran Landing Systems subsidiary), Spirit AeroSystems and Thales Group (through its Thales Air Defence subsidiary).
Current and future crewed aircraft in which the British aerospace industry has a major role include the AgustaWestland AW101, AW159, Airbus A220, A320 family, A330, A340, A350, A380, A400M, BAE Hawk, Boeing 767, 777, 787,[9] Bombardier CRJ700, Learjet 85, Britten-Norman Defender, Britten-Norman Islander, Eurofighter Typhoon, Hawker 800, Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules, Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II and BAE Systems Tempest. Current and future unmanned aerial vehicles in which the British aerospace industry has a major role include Airbus Zephyr, BAE Taranis, HAV 304 Airlander 10 and Watchkeeper WK450. Major engine families designed and manufactured in the United Kingdom include the Eurojet EJ200, TP400-D6, Rolls-Royce LiftSystem, Rolls-Royce Trent and Rolls-Royce UltraFan
The British aerospace industry has made many important contributions to the history of aircraft and was solely, or jointly, responsible for the development and production of the first aircraft with an enclosed cabin (the Avro Type F), the first jet aircraft to enter service for the Allies in World War II (the Gloster Meteor),[10] the first commercial jet airliner to enter service (the de Havilland Comet),[11] the first aircraft capable of supercruise (the English Electric Lightning),[12] the first supersonic commercial jet airliner to enter service (the Aérospatiale-BAC Concorde),[13] the first fixed-wing V/STOL combat aircraft to enter service (the Hawker Siddeley Harrier),[14] the first twin-engined widebody commercial jet airliner (the Airbus A300),[15] the first digital fly-by-wire commercial aircraft (the Airbus A320),[16] and the largest commercial aircraft to enter service to date (the Airbus A380).[17]
2010 saw the establishment of the Aerospace Growth Partnership (AGP), a strategic partnership between the UK Government, industry and other key stakeholders, established to secure the future of the UK aerospace industry in the face of an ever changing, and increasingly competitive global landscape.[18]