Once again in 2023, Leonardo supported the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT). Hosted at RAF Fairford, RIAT is the largest military airshow in the world. Several Leonardo aircraft flew over the weekend, while a number of them were also on static display. Together with our Team Tempest partners, we also played a central role in the STEM Techno Zone, with the programme’s full-scale concept model once again available for future aviators to visit.
On the first day of the show, we announced the next package of survivability upgrades to the Eurofighter Typhoon’s Praetorian Defensive Aids Sub-System (DASS). Visitors were able to learn more about the new capabilities of Praetorian DASS in the static area, where we showcased the technology on-board a Navajo test aircraft operated by 2Excel.
Next to the aircraft, attendees could discover our Falcon Shield technology, with a full demonstration of the capability on display. We also announced a contract from UK Ministry of Defence to launch the next stage of the Excalibur Flight Test Aircraft (FTA) project, to test the integrated sensors, non-kinetic effects (ISANKE) and integrated communications systems (ICS) that Leonardo and its international partners are developing for the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP). Leonardo also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Sierra Nevada Corporation to address a range of international defence and security markets.
We were proud to sign up to the Defence Aviation Net Zero Strategy at RIAT too. The strategy, which had been at the Global Air & Space Chiefs' Conference, outlines the steps necessary to meet the commitment to decarbonise the defence sector’s aviation capability.
Later in the month, we shone the spotlight on the AW149 – which we believe is the ideal solution to the UK government’s New Medium Helicopter requirement – in a series of new videos focussing on survivability and our in-house training solutions. As the UK's only end-to-end rotary wing capability provider, we continue to combine latest-generation tech with decades of expertise to provide off-the-shelf training solutions for operational success.
Also in July, we joined our partners, the Purpose Coalition, to welcome MPs to a parliamentary reception to show solidarity with Ukraine and discuss how our sector is vital to maintaining the security that underpins our freedom, prosperity and national ambitions. We were then proud to sign the Ukraine Business Compact, with Leonardo standing alongside industry peers firmly in support of the Ukrainian people.
Ahead of the official opening of our Newcastle site, which would happen in October, we announced a new research partnership with the National Innovation Centre for Data, hosted by Newcastle University. The partnership launched with the announcement of two data analytics projects, one focused on federated machine learning and another advancing technologies for smart data streaming.
Disability Pride Month took place throughout July. Led by our Enable network group, which supports colleagues with visible and non-visible disabilities, as well as those who are neurodiverse, we hosted events at our sites across the UK. We shared updates from our Yeovil site, where colleagues had been partnering with local charity The Hub in order to facilitate their trainees to gain valuable work experience.