The Farnborough International Airshow returned at the start of this week after three years, with some of the biggest companies in the aircraft space dropping news.
Since its debut in 1948, the show is a trade exhibition for the aerospace and defence industries, and an opportunity for companies like Rolls-Royce and BAE to showcase their latest developments.
Here’s a quick round of up who has said what in the first three days of the show.
Air India
Air India is said to be deciding on a US$50bn jet order under its new owners Tata Group, which is said to be split between Airbus and Boeing, although it is unlikely any deal will come to fruition during the 5-day long show.
According to Reuters, which cites industry sources, both plane makers are making a “final push” with their potential orders.
That includes 70 wide-boy jets, such as the Airbus A350s and Boeing 787s, as well 300 narrowbodies.
Rolls-Royce plans hydrogen fuelled planes
FTSE 100 jet engine maker Rolls-Royce said it will be using the Farnborough Airshow as an opportunity to test hydrogen fuelled engines.
Rolls-Royce said it is doing so “to prove the fuel can safely and efficiently deliver power for small-to-mid-size aircraft from the mid-2030s onwards.”
Combustion tests are already underway and the plan is to switch to ground testing shortly, according to the engineer.
“Rolls-Royce is planning a comprehensive series of rig and engine tests to prove the fuel can safely and efficiently deliver power for small-mid size aircraft from the mid-2030s onwards.”
It will run tests on its existing Pearl 15 jet engines which currently power Bombardier 16-seater business jets.
“We are making real progress on the hard yards of research and development towards making Net Zero flight a reality,” said Chris Cholerton, head of Rolls-Royce civil aviation.
Airbus and Boeing aerial refuelling
Back with Airbus and Boeing, the two announced on Tuesday that it is able to successfully conduct air-to-air refuelling.
Airbus said earlier in the day that its A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport was the first tanker to be certified to conduct automatic air-to-air refuelling boom operations in daylight.
The certification by the Spanish National Institute for Aerospace Technology supposedly came after a collaboration with the Republic of Singapore Air Force.
Later the same day, Boeing said its KC-46A Pegasus, which is the Air Force’s newest refuelling tanker has carried out autonomous boom aerial refuelling capability during flight tests.
BAE Systems update on Tempest fighter jet
Now away from the commercial and towards the defence and BAE, with the UK announcing it will work be working with Japan to create the next generation of Tempest fighter jets.
The first demonstrator will be capable of supersonic flight and will fly by 2027 to test features such as stealth capability.
Tempest is currently being developed by BAE Systems, which features on the FTSE 100 alongside Italy’s Leonardo, while Rolls-Royce is building the engine.
Monday’s announcement fell short of a full merger, but rather the UK, Italy and Japan will work together for a “joint concept analysis.”
Spending on defence has risen since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine from the UK, and a full partner on Tempest could see costs split between the two, which some analysts believe could be up to £25bn.