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Elbit Systems UK and KBR Inc’s joint venture, Affinity Flying Training Services Ltd (Affinity), is embarking on a series of battery-powered flight tests for the UK Ministry of Defense to assess the feasibility of environmentally friendly alternatives to current military aircraft.
The concept of trialling zero-emissions aircraft, and the subsequent pathfinder, was brought to the Ministry of Defense by Elbit Systems UK through Affinity. The introduction of this pathfinder demonstrates the joint venture’s commitment to providing innovative solutions for the UK Armed Forces and addressing the needs of the future.
In line with the Ministry of Defense’s ‘green’ transformation, the flights aim to help the Royal Air Force (RAF) assess the technology of electric aircraft, determine its effectiveness as an impactful pilot training capability and realize the net-zero ambitions of the service’s ASTRA initiative.
The flights used a fully certified two-seater pilot training aircraft, the Velis Electro. Flight and safety assurances were developed during the summer of 2021, which was organized and delivered by the team from Elbit Systems UK, through Affinity, in partnership with the Civil Aviation Authority.
The pathfinder program was split into three phases. As part of Phase 1 in December 2021, test flights took off from Damyn’s Hall, Essex, and continued into January 2022. Phase 2 commenced in March 2022, and saw the aircraft join Affinity’s existing fleet at RAF Cranwell, where up to twenty additional pilots will fly the eco-friendly aircraft. Finally, Phase 3 of the flight trials will welcome senior government officials and observers.
“We are delighted to be leading this exciting initiative with the Ministry of Defense,” said Martin Fausset, CEO of Elbit Systems UK. “The concept of zero emissions aircraft being utilized by the RAF has always been considered hypothetical and we are proud to have proposed and delivered initial capability for this pathfinder. Elbit Systems UK has always been, and continues to be, at the forefront of advances in the Defense industry, supporting our Armed Forces as they address the requirements of tomorrow.”
