AERALIS launches European subsidiary

Image courtesy AERALIS

This builds on a long history of aerospace and defence collaboration between the United Kingdom and France, illustrated by programmes such as Concorde, Jaguar and MBDA.

In anticipation of upcoming opportunities for new Anglo-French collaboration under the Lancaster House Treaty, AERALIS will deliver a flexible light jet system across Europe through an innovative development programme.

Tristan Crawford, AERALIS founder & CEO, said: “In these challenging economic times, we’re incredibly excited that AERALIS France will allow aircraft service providers to operate AERALIS ‘Aircraft-As-A-Service’ across Europe more profitably than if using fixed design, military-certified light jets. This strengthens the case for private funding to invest and removes the need for government up-front capital investment.

“The creation of our subsidiary, AERALIS France, is a further decisive step towards our vision of a flexible and interoperable light jet aircraft system for the UK and for Europe.”

With its French subsidiary, AERALIS will collaborate directly with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), developing a programme benefiting from a European civil airworthiness certificate and providing AERALIS with access to European export markets.

AERALIS stressed that it is in all European nations’ interest to grow affordable light jet fleet capacity, in the face of not only increasing threats but also the increasing age of existing fleets that urgently need affordable replacements to be developed and in operation from 2030 onwards. This expansion aligns with AERALIS’s vision of becoming a trusted partner for European defence programmes, offering a scalable and cost-effective programme in collaboration with key allies and partners.

Tristan said: "The UK needs a replacement fast jet trainer soon or costs and risk will mount. AERALIS has a British solution to this problem – one that is funded commercially so that no upfront capital is required from HMG. A modular and adaptable airframe is not just operationally tailored to the task, it will provide jobs in the UK, benefit the economy, encourage international collaboration (in this case, within Europe) and is the only programme able to provide a British aircraft for the Red Arrows – themselves a showcase for British aerospace engineering. In the current international and fiscal climate, this is how we should be doing Defence business."