Defence focus expected at Farnborough airshow

Global aviation companies are set to gather at Britain's Farnborough airshow from July 20 to 24, with defence expected to have a stronger role as wars in Ukraine and the Middle East affect security priorities and military spending.

The biennial event, held at Farnborough airport southwest of London, is expected to draw more than 100,000 visitors and 1,600 exhibitors over four days. Farnborough chief executive Gareth Rogers said the show is the largest in years and that a sixth exhibition hall has been opened to handle more visitors.

Rogers said defence has usually made up about 40 percent of the airshow, but this year the balance is closer to 50-50 between defence and commercial aviation.

Justin Bronk, a senior research fellow at RUSI, said the event is being shaped by rising European defence spending. He said there is also more focus on building capabilities for the early 2030s and beyond that would reduce industrial and capability reliance on the United States.

Ukraine is expected to have a large presence, with Rogers saying extra space was opened for its delegation and exhibitors.

One of the main defence attractions is expected to be the Global Combat Air Programme, or GCAP, a project by Britain, Italy and Japan to develop a sixth-generation stealth fighter. The aircraft is due to enter service in 2035. The three countries this month secured a £4.6-billion, or $6.2-billion, contract to advance its design. Britain has pledged £8.6 billion to GCAP over the next four years under its 10-year Defence Investment Plan, which was unveiled at the end of June.

The aircraft is being developed by a joint venture between Britain's BAE Systems, Italy's Leonardo and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Co Ltd. The programme is being watched closely after the collapse of France and Germany's joint Future Combat Air System fighter jet project.

Boeing is expected to feature its MQ-28 Ghost Bat, an autonomous drone designed to fly with crewed combat aircraft or operate independently for surveillance and reconnaissance. The drone was developed with the Royal Australian Air Force. Rheinmetall has made a deal with Boeing to integrate the MQ-28 into Germany's military fleet and weapons system, and the aircraft is expected to be available to Germany by 2029.

The airshow will also remain a commercial contest between Airbus and Boeing, as the two planemakers compete to announce new orders and identify customers behind earlier deals. Boeing is planning a prominent display as it seeks to move beyond a difficult period marked by safety crises, criminal probes and leadership changes.

Richard Evans, a senior consultant at Cirium Ascend Consultancy, said the show remains an important place for deals to move forward. Tim Robinson, from the Royal Aeronautical Society's aerospace magazine, said commercial airliner sales are unlikely to match previous large shows because major civil aircraft makers already have record order books. Supply chain issues affecting engines, spare parts and seats are also expected to be a focus for Boeing and Airbus.