Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Defence
  • /
  • DSEI 2021: AERALIS enters industry collaboration with Rolls-Royce

Defence Events

DSEI 2021: AERALIS enters industry collaboration with Rolls-Royce

British military jet developer AERALIS has marked a key milestone in the development of its pioneering modular military aircraft, entering a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Rolls-Royce to meet the company’s propulsion requirements.

Image courtesy Rolls-Royce

Announced this week at DSEI, the MoU has been put in place to provide unmatched access to established UK aerospace resources, as well as a fully integrated digital enterprise.

As pioneers of power, Rolls-Royce’s mission is to innovate efficient and sustainable power solutions to meet customers’ operational requirements and to protect our planet, secure our world and explore the universe. Rolls-Royce Defence family of digital small propulsion system are being developed rapidly to deliver disruptive and innovative technologies whilst also being more cost effective. AERALIS are keen to take advantage of these advances in propulsion system design for their digitally developed modular air system.

Advertisement
Teledyne

The MoU activity will focus initially on using Rolls-Royce’s propulsion systems powering the pre-production aircraft, and the ability to integrate them digitally in the aircraft design process.

Given the AERALIS aircraft can be reconfigured with different single and twin-engine modules, the MOU will also go on to explore how Rolls-Royce’s future propulsion system technology can be utilised across multiple AERALIS variant aircraft to meet different operational requirements, exploiting full digital engineering integration from trade studies to in-service operation.

“I’m delighted to see AERALIS and Rolls Royce partnering to develop advanced digital design methodologies and investigate future power systems options for the AERALIS modular aircraft design,” said Air Commodore Jez Holmes, Head of the RAF’s Rapid Capabilities Office. “This digital engineering and digital twinning approach could deliver considerable savings relative to traditional air system design, development and sustainment, and offer the opportunity for rapid capability adaption. As such, the learning achieved could be broadly applicable across a broad range of acquisition programmes including FCAS”

Tristan Crawford, CEO of AERALIS said: “We are delighted to announce our collaboration with such highly capable and respected partner in the industry. The fully integrated digital infrastructure that we will build alongside our aircraft is the first of its kind and we could not think of a better partner to be doing it with. We are excited to be developing this unique and innovative aircraft with such distinguished industry leaders.”

Advertisement
Gulfstream RT

Alex Zino, Executive Vice President Business Development and Future Programmes at Rolls-Royce commented: “We are looking forward to progressing this innovative programme with AERALIS to help them meet their power and propulsion needs. Innovation is at the heart of all we do at Rolls-Royce and we are committed to developing disruptive and cutting-edge technologies that will help advance this programme.”
 

 

Advertisement
Cranfield University
UKI2S backs Cryogenx to tackle military heat stress

Defence

UKI2S backs Cryogenx to tackle military heat stress

15 July 2025

The UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund (UKI2S), managed by Future Planet Capital, has invested £430,000 in Cryogenx as part of a £1.7 million seed funding round to accelerate development of its breakthrough portable cooling technology.

RTX

Defence

RTX's Raytheon awarded US Navy RAM GMLS contract

15 July 2025

RTX's Raytheon has been awarded a $74 million contract to produce RAM Guided Missile Launching Systems (GMLS) for the US Navy.

Lane Electronics to showcase connectivity solutions at DSEI 2025

Defence Security Events

Lane Electronics to showcase connectivity solutions at DSEI 2025

15 July 2025

Franchised distributor of electrical, electronic and optical connectors, Lane Electronics, will be exhibiting at DSEI 2025 (9th–12th September 2025, Excel London) will have the opportunity to explore the company’s latest connector technologies and its UK-based assembly and services.

Galvion to supply 5,000 more Batlskin Caiman helmets to Canadian DND

Defence

Galvion to supply 5,000 more Batlskin Caiman helmets to Canadian DND

15 July 2025

Galvion has received a second follow-on order from the Department of National Defence (DND) Canada for its flagship Batlskin Caiman ballistic helmet systems.

Advertisement
Teledyne
Systematic launches SitaWare BattleCloud

Defence

Systematic launches SitaWare BattleCloud

15 July 2025

C4ISR solutions developer Systematic, today announced the launch of SitaWare BattleCloud — a cloud-native evolution of the proven SitaWare Suite — alongside new features for the SitaWare suite.

BAE Systems

Defence

BAE Systems' Leadership Academy opens in Barrow

14 July 2025

BAE Systems has opened a new Leadership Academy in Barrow to deliver world-class educational facilities for designing and building Royal Navy submarines.

Advertisement
Teledyne