Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Aerospace
  • /
  • FlareBright moves from Cranfield Uni to Westcott Venture Park

Aerospace Defence Security

FlareBright moves from Cranfield Uni to Westcott Venture Park

FlareBright has grown out of its start-up premises at Cranfield University after a recent equity investment, grant funding and a major contract with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and moved into Westcott Venture Park.

Above: Chris Daniels, Chief Commercial Officer at FlareBright.
Courtesy FlareBright

The company has developed SnapShot, a micro-drone designed to capture instant aerial images in wind, adverse weather and constrained aerospace.

Developed using artificial intelligence, it is a fully autonomous system and will glide back to its user even without a GPS signal and in electromagnetically jammed environments.

Advertisement
Leonardo RT

SnapShot has a wide variety of applications from search and rescue to surveillance for police and fire operations. Roof and utilities assessments are made easier for construction firms, while commercial property and insurance businesses are another market.

In all cases, continual aerial images are available without the complexity of a drone.

The £226,000 MoD Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) contract is part of the Rapid Impact Innovations programme to develop a soldier-ready robust prototype for testing with the Army. A demonstration is shortly taking place on Salisbury Plain, defence attaches from all the allied nations will be attending.

FlareBright has moved to Building 330 at Westcott and is set for rapid growth. It started with four staff and now employs ten with the aim of having a 25-strong workforce within a year. Two apprentices are joining the company soon from Milton Keynes College.

Chris Daniels, Chief Commercial Officer at FlareBright, said: “The last six months has been astonishing in terms of growth. We believe our software is the key that unlocks drone use around the world.

“Our software could be used in every drone throughout the world because it’s something which will make them safe. We are really keen to get into the civilian space – air market which is potentially huge.”

Advertisement
DSEI 2025

Chris also sees civilian uses for SnapShot which could see Amazon packages for example delivered by drone.

Westcott was attractive to the company because of the wide-open spaces allowing for easier testing and room to grow.  The positive attitude from the Park management and the like-minded community were also key factors.

Jayne Cannell, Westcott Business Park Manager, said: “It is fantastic to welcome another highly innovative firm breaking new ground in drone technology.

“We are providing room for testing and space for future growth as part of a community which complements what they do.”


 

Advertisement
Babcock LB
Viasat test boosts business jet in-flight connectivity

Aerospace

Viasat test boosts business jet in-flight connectivity

8 July 2025

Viasat today announced a milestone for its JetXP business aviation in-flight broadband service, following recent test flights that successfully connected the Global Aero Terminal (GAT) 5510 to a ViaSat-3 satellite for the first time.

ST Engineering Antycip’s Merlin MP521 advances student innovation

Aerospace

ST Engineering Antycip’s Merlin MP521 advances student innovation

8 July 2025

Khalifa University of Science and Technology today announced major student and faculty achievements resulting from the use of ST Engineering Antycip’s Merlin MP521 Flight Simulator, which provides hands-on experience in aircraft design and performance evaluation, directly contributing to a growing body of student-led research and academic ...

Birmingham Airport sees busiest ever June

Aerospace

Birmingham Airport sees busiest ever June

8 July 2025

Birmingham Airport (BHX) has had its busiest June ever, with a record 1,360,957 passengers travelling through the airport last month.

Advanced Engineering 2025 extends additives and composites spotlight

Aerospace Events

Advanced Engineering 2025 extends additives and composites spotlight

7 July 2025

Taking place on 29th and 30th October 2025 at the NEC Birmingham, Advanced Engineering will have a new expanded Composites Pavilion, SME Village, the ADS Pavilion, AM2 Forum (Additive Manufacturing and Advanced Materials Forum) and a focused Electronics Zone.

Advertisement
DSEI 2025
CAA appoints experts to strengthen economic regs and growth

Aerospace

CAA appoints experts to strengthen economic regs and growth

7 July 2025

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has appointed a team of specialists at the forefront of economics and competition policy to provide strategic advice to the aviation regulator on economic regulation and the challenges and opportunities in enabling the aviation sector to transform and grow.

Skyports and Ajman Transport to advance AAM in Ajman

Aerospace

Skyports and Ajman Transport to advance AAM in Ajman

7 July 2025

Ajman Transport Authority has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Skyports Infrastructure, with the aim of exploring opportunities for cooperation in the field of advanced air mobility (AAM) for smart aerial transport, including air taxi services, in the Emirate.

Advertisement
Leonardo RT