Michael Tyrrell

UK vehicle production fell 7.5% in the first half of 2026, with factories turning out 385,979 cars and commercial vehicles, according to the latest figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

MACH Machine Tools, a leading supplier of CNC and manual machine tools and workshop equipment to component manufacturers, toolmakers and educational institutions in the UK, Ireland, Europe and the US, will be showcasing a range of its MACH-branded machine tool technologies on its stand (STAND 339400) at IMTS 2026, Chicago (14-19 September).

Pratt & Whitney, an RTX business, has been awarded a nearly $1.3bn contract for F135 engine spare parts. The F135 powers all three variants of the F-35 fighter jet.

Airbus, with partners from across the EU, the UK and the US, is pursuing its ambition to pioneer a hybrid-electric non-propulsive energy architecture for the next generation of commercial aircraft with LEIA (Large Scale Integration Demonstrator of Hybrid Electrical Architecture).

The government has awarded a new £5.9bn contract to BAE Systems, funding critical work to progress the nation's Dreadnought Class nuclear deterrent submarines towards entry into service.

BAE Systems unveiled the UK's first uncrewed autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) at the Farnborough International Airshow in July. It is designed to extend combat mass for armed forces by complementing existing and future crewed aircraft, delivering additional frontline capability at a lower cost.

Rangeview, an advanced investment casting company, has announced it has been selected by Kratos Defense & Security Solutions to develop advanced cast components for its advanced turbine engine programmes.

Hermeus, a venture-backed defence aviation company, has secured a $159m contract modification with the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU).

The start of the third quarter saw further positive signs from the UK manufacturing industry. Upturns in production, new business and new export orders all gained momentum, while the impact of the twin headwinds of high cost inflation and severe supply chain disruption eased further.

NASA researchers recently put a new wing design, appearing long and thin with a lightweight structural design, through a series of tests to find its structural limits. What they found left them encouraged about the wing’s potential, even when they pushed it past its intended limits.