Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Geopolitics Drives Technology Shift to Defense at GKN
European investment in sovereign capability targets new drones
GKN Aerospace additive manufacturing
GKN Aerospace is seeking to replace metal forgings and castings with additive manufacturing.

As GKN Aerospace seeks to absorb what CEO Peter Dilnot described as “the most geopolitical change we have seen in a generation,” the group has been recalibrating the focus of its research and development work to prioritize areas such as new uncrewed aircraft applications. The company is also pursuing breakthroughs in additive manufacturing it believes could alleviate the industry’s ongoing supply-chain issues.

Briefing reporters several weeks before the Farnborough International Airshow, Dilnot said that the shifting role for drones in both the Ukraine and Iran conflicts points to a market in which “there will not be many armed helicopters.” This conviction lies behind new GKN partnerships supporting new autonomous platforms, including one it has begun developing with drone innovator Anduril and eVTOL developer Archer Aviation.