Two relatively small but highly regarded UK aerospace companies, local/sub-regional airliner manufacturer Britten-Norman and aircraft design, production and maintenance company Cranfield Aerospace Solutions (CAeS), have announced that they are to merge and create the world’s first fully-integrated zero carbon-emissions aircraft company (that is, designing and producing both the powertrain and the airframe). Subject to final due diligence, the merger will be completed by the middle of this year.

The new company will develop a new, zero-emissions, sub-regional aircraft, which will enter service in 2026. The aircraft will be powered by a hydrogen fuel cell (hydrogen-electric) propulsion system, developed by CAeS. The merged entity will combine the fuel cell expertise of CAeS with the airframe and manufacturing expertise of Britten-Norman, renowned for its twin-engined nine-seater Islander aircraft (and its military derivative, the Defender).

More than 750 Islanders and Defenders are reported to be in service, worldwide. Although designed in the 1960s, the Islander, in its upgraded BN2T model, remains in production today. The Defender has been particularly popular among African armed forces.

The two companies have been cooperating for more than two years, on a project named Fresson. Backed by the UK government, through the UK Aerospace Technology Institute, and by more than £14-million in private funding from global investors, Project Fresson seeks to develop a hydrogen-electric propulsion system for the Islander aircraft, which would allow the type’s conversion to zero-emission operation.

“The merging of Britten-Norman and [CAeS] will create a new market leader in green aircraft manufacturing, bringing together joint strengths in aerospace manufacturing, certification and innovation,” highlighted Britten-Norman CE William Hynett. “The investment will give a huge boost to UK aviation exports and will deliver the first original equipment manufacturer sub-regional aircraft powered by hydrogen. This merger will create many new high-tech and manufacturing roles across the new business and a host of opportunities for apprenticeships and graduate placements in the sustainable aerospace sector.”

“This deal accelerates our roadmap for the introduction of new zero-emissions aircraft,” stressed CAeS CE Paul Hutton. “As other sectors decarbonise quickly, it is imperative that the aviation industry accelerates its own transition to new, clean aircraft. Looking to the future we will use the combined experience of Cranfield Aerospace and Britten-Norman to produce an entirely new aircraft design, optimised around hydrogen fuel cell technology.”

The merged company is set to receive up to £5-million in investment from HydrogenOne Capital Growth, with up to another £5-million from other investors, including Safran Corporate Ventures (an arm of France’s Safran aero-engine group) and the United Arab Emirates-based Strategic Development Fund.