The Farnborough International Air Show (FIA) in the United Kingdom is the largest in the sector with that of Le Bourget, near Paris. The biannual event had to be canceled in 2020 due to the health crisis that forced airlines to ground thousands of planes. This recovery is taking place in a new context that is both civil and military. On the one hand, the resumption of business trips and tourism, on the other, the war in Ukraine that is relaunching defense investment.
About 80,000 people are expected during the five days of the show. On the other hand, there are no more weekends open to the public who want to see demonstrations of aircraft in flight, as was the case in previous editions. Only on Friday will it be open to students, trainees and people considering a career in aerospace.
The duel of contracts between Boeing and Airbus
With the resumption of air traffic, which should return to its pre-Covid level in 2023, the number of planes in the world should double in the next 20 years. Airbus forecasts a need for 39,500 new aircraft in the next 20 years.
Therefore, the hall should once again be the scene of rivalries and announcements of mega orders between the European Airbus and the American Boeing. In 2018, orders and commitments made at the show totaled $192 billion, representing more than 1,400 aircraft, according to organizers.
After the brutal crisis of 2020, the confrontation turned in favor of the European aircraft manufacturer. In 2021, the gap in the entire year is spectacular. More than 600 aircraft delivered for Airbus and only 340 aircraft for Boeing.
Farnborough is also an opportunity for aircraft manufacturers to show off their latest models, some during flight demonstrations: Airbus with its A350-900, Boeing with its 777x and the largest version of its 737, the MAX 10, an aircraft whose certification has been delayed to the chagrin of its customers. The American giant will also present the autonomous flying taxi prototype from its start-up Wisk Aero.
Tempest, Scaf’s competitor
Defense is not far behind: the Russian invasion of Ukraine has led most Europeans to announce increases in their defense budgets to strengthen their armed forces.
Defense manufacturers will present numerous devices: Airbus, Leonardo, Boeing and Lockheed Martin have fielded numerous military helicopters and aircraft, notably the US F-35 fighter jet, sold to 10 European countries, including the UK, a partner in the programme.
The 6th generation aircraft will also be at the center of the issues discussed with the Dassault/Airbus Scaf, but especially its competitor, the Tempest, the plane of the future that the United Kingdom is preparing with Italy, Sweden and Japan. Its goal is to be operational in 2035. This project, which includes BAE Rolls-Royce, the European missile manufacturer MBDA and the British subsidiary of Leonardo, has a budget of 2,700 million dollars from the British government until 2025 with an additional 900 dollars . million private companies during the same period.
And if no Russian exhibitor is present due to international sanctions, Turkey stands out by presenting various models of drones. Against all odds, the country has positioned itself as a leader in these unmanned devices with the Bayraktar TB2 drone from Baykar Makina which became a symbol of resistance against the Russian army and a success for the Turkish arms industry. This manufacturer is also preparing an unmanned fighter, the Fighter UAV, as well as a combat aircraft, the Hurjet, whose prototype will be presented in Farnborough.
Source: BFM TV
