Iam - CEAS. Council of European Aerospace Societies

SPACE
rily include, desirable though in principle this might be,
commitment to expensive new platforms. In the future,
large new aerospace platforms will be increasingly rare
(although upgrades, consequently, will be required), but it
is vital that UK systems integrators for airframes, sensors
and propulsion remain in a position to assume leading
roles in international programmes. To do so requires a
concerted strategic investment in underpinning technologies,
particularly in the electronics and avionics sectors.
These are the building blocks of future capability and
export success, whether in indigenous programmes or
sold into overseas platforms. If the Government changes
course in the manner we recommend, it will help to retain
core manufacturing skills and the focus for academic and
other research activity.
There is a world class body of knowledge embedded in the
UK military aerospace industry, which should be defended
and nurtured. It is an investment for the future that will
reap rich rewards in military effectiveness, economic success
and political influence. Defence aerospace is a fundamental
component of UK manufacturing success; producing
high value goods and related services will generate
future national income and underpin the country’s ability to
sustain a high standard of life and deliver first rate public
services.
It is recommended that:
That in a complex and challenging world, the government
must recognise that effective air power capability is an
On 21 November 2012, ESA concluded a successful two-day
Council meeting at ministerial level in Naples, Italy. Ministers
from ESA’s twenty Member States and Canada allocated €10
billion for ESA’s space activities and programmes for the
coming years.
SEVERAL OBSERVERS WERE ALSO PRESENT
Apart from the 20 ESA Member States and Canada, several
observers were also present: 8 out of the 9 EU Member
States not yet Member States of ESA (Bulgaria, Estonia,
24 • CEAS Quarterly Bulletin - December 2012 •
essential component of defence and security and that the
essential foundation for this capability is a strong on-shore
military aerospace industry backed by a coherent technology
programme.
That the government should recognise that a strong base
of UK defence intellectual property is the crucial enabler for
the independent development of defence systems. That
UK defence intellectual property and advanced manufacturing
capability have been developed over decades and, if
lost, will take decades to regain. Similarly, unless the UK
defence industrial foundation is maintained then the potential
for defence exports will be critically weakened.
The Government should recognise that the focus on subsystems
rather than the design, development and production
of complete aircraft significantly limits the capability of
UK defence industry. This will be especially marked with
the end of Typhoon production by 2017 and that JSF involvement
will take UK fast jet production offshore and that
the extent of UK access to core technology may not ensure
our involvement in future high value upgrade work.
The UK retains strong links with European neighbours in
order to retain core technological competencies. Joint programmes
should be sought with both US and European
partners but policies should be formulated in the knowledge
that collaboration with the latter is likely to have
greater technological benefits.
It will be vital that UK systems integrators for airframes,
sensors and propulsion remain able to take leading roles in
international programmes. This requires a concerted strategic
investment in underpinning technologies.
THE ESA COUNCIL AT MINISTERIAL LEVEL
ON 20-21 NOVEMBER IN NAPLES
ESA Council at Ministerial Level, Naples, 20 November 2012
Hungary, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, the Slovak Republic
and Malta), the European Commission, EUMETSAT, the
European Science Foundation, the European Defence
Agency (EDA), the European Maritime Safety Agency
(EMSA), the European GNSS Agency (EGA) and the
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
(OECD).
TELECOMMUICATIONS, METEOROLOGY, EARTH OBSER-
VATION, ISS
Ministers focused the investments on fields with high
growth potential or with a direct and immediate impact on
the economy such as telecommunications and meteorology.
They approved ESA’s level of resources for 2013-
2017, the proposals for Earth Observation and confirmed
Europe’s commitment for the exploitation of the
International Space Station (ISS).
ARIANE 5 ME AND ARIANE 6
Replacement of the Ariane 5 rocket was the major theme
of the Ministerial Conference. The ESA proposes that
Ariane 6, its successor, is designed to launch a single satel-