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British multinational aerospace company BAE Systems has announced a new FalconWorks research division to develop cutting-edge combat air capabilities for the United Kingdom and its allies.
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The division will be housed within an already existing air sector and provide advanced, agile research to rapidly concept new products and services from six sites across the UK, according to the company.
FalconWorks is expected to explore, develop, and invest in technology such as hypersonics, information advantage, artificial intelligence, nano technologies, additive materials and techniques, low observation materials, data science, robotics, quantum sensing, synthetic environments, electrical-powered air systems, autonomy, e-products, uncrewed air systems, and autonomous collaborative platforms.
Innovation spaces such as air labs, factory of the future, and hangar of the future concepts will also be developed.
Dave Holmes, BAE Systems FalconWorks managing director, said the division will work with new and existing partners, academia, research organisations, SMEs, and national governments.
“Defending our freedoms is becoming ever more unpredictable. The only constant is change,” he said.
“The creation of FalconWorks is a reflection of the changing environment and our goal to ensure innovative technology development is at the core of everything we do.
“This new division builds on our established expertise in world-leading combat air programs such as Typhoon, F-35 and Tempest to unlock opportunities to expand our portfolio and deliver the breakthrough technologies which keep our customers ahead.”
Holmes said it will be the company’s new centre for advanced and agile research while delivering a long-term, customer-centric approach to research and development investments, horizon scanning to identify new capabilities, and innovation initiatives to maintain competitive advantage.
The new FalconWorks division bears striking resemblance to similar advanced development programs run elsewhere internationally.
Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works features aircraft design, exotic aircraft platforms, classified research and development programs, while Boeing’s Phantom Works also has its roots in advanced prototyping of defence products to anticipate future capability gaps.
