Faster, stealthier aircraft made possible by new trials

Future aircraft could become lighter, stealthier, faster and more efficient, thanks to new technology being developed by BAE Systems with the University of Manchester.

The pair have just completed the first flight trials of MAGMA - a small-scale unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), which uses a unique blown-air system to manoeuvre the aircraft.

It removes the conventional need for complex, mechanical moving parts used to move flaps to control the aircraft during flight, potentially paving the way for stealthier aircraft designs in the future.

BAE Systems engineering fellow Clyde Warsop believes the technologies being developed with the University of Manchester will make it possible to design cheaper, higher performance, next-generation aircraft.

“Our investment in research and development drives continued technological improvements in our advanced military aircraft, helping to ensure UK aerospace remains at the forefront of the industry and that we retain the right skills to design and build the aircraft of the future,” he commented.

Bill Crowther, a senior academic and leader of the MAGMA project at the University of Manchester, added that the trials are “truly groundbreaking” and an important step towards exploring adaptable airframes.