ATI launches first Market Spotlight with focus on the UK’s opportunity for growth in aerospace composites.

• The UK could grow its market share in aerospace composites sixfold between now and 2050.
• The sector will need to have a mature composite capability with technology at TRL6 by 2030.
• The sector needs to align around a clear strategy that directs funding and activity to create a coherent and competitive national capability.
• The ATI is convening interested parties from across the aerospace ecosystem to develop activities that will fast-track specific technologies to underpin a national capability.

A new Market Spotlight from the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) finds the UK could grow its market share in aerospace composites by more than six times between now and 2050.

Composite structures are crucial to enabling manufacturers to drastically reduce the weight of aircraft components reducing fuel burn and aircraft emissions. Composites now account for over 50% of the weight of the Airbus A350 and Boeing B787, compared to 6% of the Boeing 747. A new generation of ultra-efficient aircraft is expected to feature further increases.

This growth is driven by technology developments, for example, the next generation single-aisle aircraft from Airbus and Boeing will likely feature a predominately carbon composite wing. Each new generation of aircraft features a rapidly increasing percentage of composite components, which is forecast to more than double the global market value from $16bn in 2022 to $34bn by 2032.

Click here to download the full report now.

Gary Elliott, ATI CEO said: “The ATI’s first market spotlight shows composites is a key technology for the ultra-efficient aircraft of the future, presenting a significant market opportunity.

“The UK is ideally positioned to seize the composites opportunity but we’ll need to move fast and that’s the aim of the coordinated approach we’re proposing today.

“Maintaining and growing our market share will drive growth across the nations and regions while delivering on our environmental commitments.”

On current market predictions, the ATI estimates that the UK total addressable market for composite components on future ultra-efficient platforms will total more than £65bn to 2050.

Through a targeted approach to improving competitiveness the UK can maintain and grow workshare in this area. To do so, the sector will need to have a mature composite capability with technology at TRL6 by 2030 if it is to bid and successfully secure contracts on future platforms.

In the past decade, the UK Government has invested £480m of grant funding through the ATI Programme in composite material research and technology, amounting to £827m when combined with industrial funding.

Today, almost all Airbus commercial wings are assembled in the UK alongside the manufacture of some key components. Securing UK-manufactured wings on next generation aircraft is critical to achieving ATI projected market share, national economic growth forecasts and regional benefits driven by the creation of high value jobs.

In the Market Spotlight released today, the ATI calls on the sector to align around a clear strategy that directs funding and activity to create a coherent and competitive national capability. This includes:

• Mature our industrial system with a rate-capable, credible, integrated supply chain by growing advanced tooling capability, technology providers, manufacturers and integrators.
• Develop technology solutions at pace that encompass the entire manufacturing cycle from materials to end product.
• Demonstrate all key technologies to manufacture large composite structures at rate to TRL6 by 2030.

To develop this view of priorities, the ATI has analysed our funding portfolio, reviewed technology trends in global aerospace composites and consulted industry and institutional stakeholders. We now invite innovation and technology stakeholders to collaborate on finalising and delivering a national aerospace composites strategy.

Click here to download the report now.

Feedback

To register your interest to attend our Composites in Aerospace workshop, join our upcoming composite-themed events or provide feedback on this paper, please click here.

Composites Working Group

To refine the approach, the ATI is setting up a Composites Working Group. The group will be made up of subject matter experts and organisations who will advise on priority areas for investment, finalising the strategy, scoping projects, funding routes, stakeholder engagement and assessing progress. Individuals and organisations operating in adjacent sectors will also be involved in discussions concerning proposed interventions as appropriate to explore opportunities for collaboration and coalescence of efforts.

The Composites Working Group will meet monthly from April 2025 and members will need to be prepared to contribute up to 100 hours of their time in the period to October 2025 to support the meetings, review document drafts, provide feedback, and engage in workshops.

If you would like to be considered for membership of the Composites Working Group please email composites@ati.org.uk by 17:30 on Friday 4th April 2025 with your contact details, reason for applying and relevant experience.

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