Latest news with #Aeralis
Daily Record
07-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Prestwick Airport lands Red Arrows deal as hundreds of jobs set for Ayrshire base
Aeralis have chosen Prestwick Airport as the final assembly line for the potential replacement of the Red Arrows. Prestwick Airport was the "number one choice" to host the final assembly line for the potential replacement of the Hawk fighter jet used by the Red Arrows. Aeralis, one of the companies vying for the contract to replace the Hawk which will be phased out of service by 2030, chose Prestwick Airport out of 67 potential sites. More than 200 jobs could be coming to the airport to assemble the new military jets if Aeralis get the go ahead from the UK Government. If successful, different parts of the jets will be built across multiple sites in England before coming to Prestwick for final assembly. Aeralis' proposition draws on existing, world-leading UK manufacturing through a core consortium of seven aerospace and defence companies, supported by over 40 small and medium-sized enterprises. The firm will now work with Prestwick Airport and local stakeholders to refine the details for the site, as well as establishing relationships with local technology, infrastructure and supply chain partners. Neil Bennett, chief operating officer, described Aeralis as "effectively Airbus but for a small military jet". Speaking to Ayrshire Live, he said: "Prestwick was the number one choice. Firstly, it's got scale. Secondly, it's got two runways - a 2,000m runway and a 3,000m runway. "It has airspace above and you are out over the sea immediately which is good for a new aircraft facility - every aircraft will have to have a performance acceptance test. "The workforce in this area, I personally think is second to none. There must be 50 or so companies around Prestwick Airport and we will do business with them. "Together, with Ayrshire College, we should be able to pull a good workforce together here to do the final assembly of the aircraft. "Notwithstanding that, I think that the Prestwick Airport strategy, the welcoming we received when we first arrived and the openness of discussion that we've had is second to none. "This industry is full of barriers to entry for a start-up organisation so when you come across a positive potential arrangement you go with it. "We had a mechanism to score various features, Prestwick came out top. Intuitively, myself and my colleagues felt this was the right one." Dr Willie Mackie, interim chairman of Prestwick Airport, said: "This is a really exciting announcement that Prestwick has been selected out of 67 potential locations to locate this final assembly for what will be the replacement for the Red Arrows. "That will bring further jobs in terms of the aerospace sector to build on what's already a really core strength of the airport and surrounding businesses. "It would also deliver what I would describe a legacy investment and this could trail on for many years, decades in fact as the planes are developed and then the maintenance and repair operation. "That is exciting. The Aeralis opportunity overlays a lot of the capability that we have managed to build here. We think Prestwick is the right place with the right skill set."
Scottish Sun
04-07-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Next generation of Red Arrows jets could be built in Scotland under new plans
And the Government is considering a Russian designed aircraft to replace them MADE IN BRITAIN Next generation of Red Arrows jets could be built in Scotland under new plans Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE next generation of Red Arrows jets could be built in Scotland under plans announced last night. The Qatar-backed start-up Aeralis picked Scotland's Prestwick Airport as its preferred site for assembly of a new jet trainer aircraft. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up The Sun revealed the Red Arrows could run out of Hawk T1 jets as they are due to retire in 2030. And the Government is considering a Russian designed aircraft to replace them. Aeralis is the only UK company to offer the Government a jet trainer aircraft which could be designed and built in Britain. But they are yet to build a prototybe. Ian Forgie, chief executive of Prestwick Airport, said: "We are tremendously excited about this agreement with Aeralis and the opportunity it brings to generate jobs, apprenticeships, investment and innovation in the Prestwick area. "We look forward to working with Aeralis to make this happen." Tristan Crawford, chief executive of Aeralis, said: "Prestwick represents an ideal site for our UK final assembly line." The company said it "awaits UK Government commitment to the aircraft in order to move forward with these plans that will clearly return Scotland to its deserved place as a first-tier aviation nation". The Red Arrows have always flown British jets. But arms giant BAE are in talks with America's Boeing about building a US jet on British soil to replace the Hawk T1. Iconic RAF Red Arrows jets in danger of being replaced by Russian planes loved by Putin in move slammed as 'unthinkable'
The Irish Sun
04-07-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Next generation of Red Arrows jets could be built in Scotland under new plans
THE next generation of Red Arrows jets could be built in Scotland under plans announced last night. The Qatar-backed start-up Aeralis picked The Sun revealed And the Government is considering a Russian designed aircraft to replace them. Aeralis is the only UK company to offer the Government a jet trainer aircraft which could be designed and built in Britain. But they are yet to build a prototybe. Read More on UK News Ian Forgie, chief executive of Prestwick Airport, said: "We are tremendously excited about this agreement with Aeralis and the opportunity it brings to generate jobs, apprenticeships, investment and innovation in the Prestwick area. "We look forward to working with Aeralis to make this happen." Tristan Crawford, chief executive of Aeralis, said: "Prestwick represents an ideal site for our UK final assembly line." The company said it "awaits UK Government commitment to the aircraft in order to move forward with these plans that will clearly return Scotland to its deserved place as a first-tier aviation nation". Most read in The Sun But arms giant BAE are in talks with America's Boeing about building a US jet on British soil to replace the Hawk T1. Iconic RAF Red Arrows jets in danger of being replaced by Russian planes loved by Putin in move slammed as 'unthinkable' 1 The Red Arrows perform a display during Armed Forces Day in June Credit: Getty
The Sun
04-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Next generation of Red Arrows jets could be built in Scotland under new plans
THE next generation of Red Arrows jets could be built in Scotland under plans announced last night. The Qatar-backed start-up Aeralis picked Scotland's Prestwick Airport as its preferred site for assembly of a new jet trainer aircraft. The Sun revealed the Red Arrows could run out of Hawk T1 jets as they are due to retire in 2030. And the Government is considering a Russian designed aircraft to replace them. Aeralis is the only UK company to offer the Government a jet trainer aircraft which could be designed and built in Britain. But they are yet to build a prototybe. Ian Forgie, chief executive of Prestwick Airport, said: "We are tremendously excited about this agreement with Aeralis and the opportunity it brings to generate jobs, apprenticeships, investment and innovation in the Prestwick area. "We look forward to working with Aeralis to make this happen." Tristan Crawford, chief executive of Aeralis, said: "Prestwick represents an ideal site for our UK final assembly line." The company said it "awaits UK Government commitment to the aircraft in order to move forward with these plans that will clearly return Scotland to its deserved place as a first-tier aviation nation". The Red Arrows have always flown British jets. But arms giant BAE are in talks with America's Boeing about building a US jet on British soil to replace the Hawk T1. Iconic RAF Red Arrows jets in danger of being replaced by Russian planes loved by Putin in move slammed as 'unthinkable' 1
South Wales Guardian
04-07-2025
- Business
- South Wales Guardian
Next generation of Red Arrows jets could be assembled at Prestwick Airport
Aeralis is discussing a strategic partnership with the central Ayrshire airport, which is owned by the Scottish Government. The company is the only one in the UK which is designing and building a manned light jet aircraft which could equip the RAF's display team, or be sold on the international export market. The Red Arrows currently fly Hawk T1 jets which are several decades old and due to be retired in 2030. Aeralis says components for the replacement jets would be built around the UK before being assembled at Prestwick, where the aircraft would take their first flight. The airport was bought by the Government for £1 in 2013, though officials hope to sell it back to the private sector. Ian Forgie, chief executive of Prestwick Airport, said: 'We are tremendously excited about this agreement with Aeralis and the opportunity it brings to generate jobs, apprenticeships, investment and innovation in the Prestwick area. 'We look forward to working with Aeralis to make this happen.' Tristan Crawford, chief executive of Aeralis, said: 'Prestwick represents an ideal site for our UK final assembly line. 'The airport has a strong aviation legacy particularly in whole aircraft manufacture, as well as excellent local aerospace manufacturing and MRO (maintenance, repair, overhaul) resources, and an operating model well suited to supporting new aerospace programmes. 'This will provide Aeralis with tremendous operating capability for building, testing and industrialising the new aircraft, meaning Prestwick is the perfect choice for Aeralis.' The company said it 'awaits UK Government commitment to the aircraft in order to move forward with these plans that will clearly return Scotland to its deserved place as a first-tier aviation nation'. A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'As home to Scotland's largest aerospace cluster, Prestwick is an ideal place to locate new advanced manufacturing facilities for the aviation sector. 'News of this potential investment, and ongoing discussions between Aeralis and Glasgow Prestwick Airport to finalise an agreement for the production of training aircraft, are welcome.'
