DSEI 2023: AERALIS unveiled the designs for the first variants of its revolutionary modular light jet aircraft including its Advanced Jet Trainer which will be the first design to go into production. Its next-generation design of the Common Core Fuselage (CCF) will be the backbone of the company’s future aircraft fleet.
Following AERALIS’s recent design review, chaired by Sir Julian Young, the new light jet aircraft will have a first-of-its-kind wing architecture consisting of an inner wing and an outer wing to ensure manoeuvrability at both low and high speeds – giving the aircraft transonic capability.
The core of the new aircraft design allows for multiple configurations including Advanced Jet Trainer, Aggressor, Companion, ISTAR, and Tanking options.
Changes to the aircraft fuselage design and new wings will means the aircraft will use commercial off-the-shelf landing gear which increases maintainability, further reducing the aircrafts’ maintenance costs. AERALIS’s modular cockpit also provides a wide range of functions. The single-seat configuration will offer additional room to fit Electromagnetic Warfare (EW) capabilities or additional fuel payload, while the dual-seat variant adds an additional crew member. The implementation of a full combat radar in the nose cone of the aircraft offers both combat effectiveness for ISTAR and EW configurations, as well as real-world preparation when used during advanced training.
AERALIS also announced a memorandum of understanding with Babcock France to explore the operation of flexible aircraft ‘as a service’ enabled by its CCF design.
The agreement seeks to outline the value of a transformational delivery operating model for making different AERALIS aircraft configurations available to air forces as a service, including how this could support future flexible and affordable combat air support and training constructs ready for 5th and 6th Generation Combat Air. AERALIS and Babcock will look to develop flexible solutions compatible with a number of current and future operational requirements in both the UK and France to offer a clear response in support of March’s UK France Joint Leaders’ Declaration concerning Anglo-French interoperability of future air systems.
Babcock France is currently under contract with the French MoD to deliver both Advanced and Lead-in training assets, including aircraft and simulation. Babcock partners with Dassault Aviation in France to provide a complete system to the French Air Force delivering training to upcoming jet pilots and weapons systems officers. Babcock is also a lead partner in Ascent flight training, delivering flying training to pilots and air crew to the three services of the UK armed forces.
This announcement comes after an agreement was signed with France-based RED AIR provider STDS in April 2023 complementing AERALIS’s existing agreements with both AirTanker and Ascent flight training.
by David Oliver
