Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Aerospace
  • /
  • Grants up to £65m available for Future Flight Challenge Phase 3

Aerospace

Grants up to £65m available for Future Flight Challenge Phase 3

Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, are investing up to £65 million in innovation projects for Future Flight Challenge Phase 3.

Image AdobeStock / courtesy TBAT

Projects must demonstrate integrated aviation systems and vehicle technologies that enable new classes of electric or autonomous air vehicles.

The aim of this competition (which closes on 3rd November 2021) is to fund ambitious projects that will successfully integrate the technical, regulatory and social challenges necessary to prove new classes of electric or autonomous air vehicles. These projects can include:

Advertisement
ODU RT
  • Demonstrations of multiple drones, operating as a beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) service in a defined geographic area.
  • A multi‐modal demonstration of different aircraft types operating in parallel providing an end‐to‐end solution.
  • Advanced air mobility vehicle operation in a representative environment.
  • Scheduled sub‐regional electric flights over a representative route.

Your project must:

  • Focus on the enabling and cross‐cutting technologies essential to support the safe and effective operation of these new vehicle types.
  • Clearly demonstrate how the enabling technologies you are developing combine to support an overall aviation “system of systems” that supports the different classes of Future Flight aircraft.
  • Must have total eligible costs between £500,000 and £15 million.
  • Start on 1st April 2022 and end by 31st March 2024.
  • The project must last between 12 and 24 months, carry out it’s project work in the UK and intend to exploit the results from or in the UK.

To lead a project your organisation must be a UK registered business of any size, be or involve at least one UK registered SME, collaborate with other UK business academic institutions, charities, not‐for‐profit, public sector organisations or research and technology organisations (RTOs).

For strand one of the competition your project must include a means of demonstration of one or more of these classes of aircraft and enabling systems, operating in a representative environment.

Advertisement
ODU RT

For strand two of the competition your project must focus on the enabling and cross‐cutting technologies essential to support the safe and effective operation of these new vehicle types

Innovation is inherently risky, making the need for additional funds crucial to successfully commercialising a new technology. For UK organisations seeking innovation support services to finance Research and Development, TBAT is providing some salient advice and technical assistance. With some grant funding only available through a competitive process and R&D Tax needing to be claimed via HMRC, TBAT’s technical application writing knowledge and experience aims to help businesses secure the funds they need.

For further information on strand one and strand two of the competition:

www.tbat.co.uk/services/grant-funding-calls/future-flight-challenge-phase-3-strand-1

www.tbat.co.uk/services/grant-funding-calls/future-flight-challenge-phase-3-strand-2

 


 

Advertisement
FIA2026 animated banner
First cohort of apprentices graduates from airport management course

Aerospace

First cohort of apprentices graduates from airport management course

9 April 2026

A group of 11 apprentices have become the first to graduate from an in-depth, two-year course run in partnership by Manchester Airport and Trafford and Stockport College Group (TSCG).

Loganair appoints Scott Cunningham as Chief Financial Officer

Aerospace

Loganair appoints Scott Cunningham as Chief Financial Officer

8 April 2026

Loganair today confirmed that Scott Cunningham will be joining the airline as Chief Financial Officer, bringing over 25 years of finance and leadership experience to the team.

Luton Airport completes runway resurfacing

Aerospace

Luton Airport completes runway resurfacing

7 April 2026

London Luton Airport (LLA) has completed a significant £18 million investment in resurfacing its runway.

Bristol Airport submits plans for bigger and better airport

Aerospace

Bristol Airport submits plans for bigger and better airport

7 April 2026

Bristol Airport is looking to offer new destinations around the world under plans submitted to North Somerset Council, that will enable it to expand services to meet customer demand and support economic regional growth.

Advertisement
ODU RT
Chapman Freeborn appoints Latha Narayan as President APAC

Aerospace

Chapman Freeborn appoints Latha Narayan as President APAC

7 April 2026

Chapman Freeborn has appointed Latha Narayan as its President for the Asia Pacific (APAC) region.

FAC reviews TEKEVER

Aerospace Defence Security Events

FAC reviews TEKEVER's progress in the UK

7 April 2026

Senior representatives from the Farnborough Aerospace Consortium (FAC) recently visited AI-centric autonomous systems provider TEKEVER to see how the Portuguese company is progressing with its UK businesses.

Advertisement
ODU RT
Advertisement
Gulfstream banner