Drones and green aircraft win backing
More than £4m has been awarded to pioneering British projects developing the next generation of aviation technology, the government has confirmed.
The funding, part of the Future Flight programme run by Innovate UK, is aimed at strengthening the UK’s position in drones, unmanned aircraft and zero-emission aviation. Ministers say the investment will deliver faster, greener services for businesses and the public sector while supporting skilled jobs across the country.
Cutting-edge projects
Among the winners is the London Health Bridge Project, the UK’s leading medical drone delivery service, which will scale up from 1,000 to 50,000 sample deliveries a month.
Other funded projects include:
- Beyond Restoration, which will use heavy-lift drones to transport environmental materials to remote sites to support land restoration.
- Regional Offshore Cargo Drone Demonstrator, a Scottish scheme developing the UK’s first heavy-lift logistics drones for offshore wind farms.
The programme will also support work on vertical take-off and landing systems and next-generation zero-emission aircraft.
Government backing
Aviation Minister Keir Mather said: “We’re backing the next generation of British aviation businesses whose transformative technologies will reshape how we live and work in the years to come.”
He added that drone and aircraft innovations would cut emissions, save money and boost productivity.
The announcement comes alongside wider commitments, including a record £14.9bn investment in UK research and development and £2.3bn for the Aerospace Technology Institute over the next decade.
Future Flight vision
Simon Masters, Deputy Challenge Director at Innovate UK, said the programme was accelerating the route to commercial operations. “These ambitious new projects highlight the strength of the sector and its diverse applications, from reducing emissions, advancing healthcare delivery and protecting our environment.”
The government said the investment will help build on the UK’s leadership in aerospace, driving adoption of sustainable aviation fuels and modernising airspace to unlock future growth.
