World-Class Aerospace Engineering, Defence Technology and Advanced Manufacturing
Lancashire is the centre of BAE Systems' military aircraft activities in the United Kingdom. The company's two principal aerospace facilities are located at Warton, near Preston, and Samlesbury, near Blackburn. Together they form one of Europe's largest aerospace engineering and advanced manufacturing clusters.
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The sites have a continuous aviation heritage stretching back to the Second World War and continue to design, manufacture, assemble, test and support some of the world's most advanced military aircraft. They also undertake research into future air systems, autonomous technologies and digital engineering. BAE Systems' Lancashire operations are central to the UK's combat air capability.
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| Location | Primary Activities |
|---|---|
| Warton | Aircraft design, systems integration, flight testing, final assembly, FalconWorks advanced research |
| Samlesbury | Advanced manufacturing, composite structures, aircraft fuselage production, engineering design and apprenticeship training |
| Academy for Skills & Knowledge | Apprenticeships, graduate development and advanced manufacturing training |
The Warton facility is one of Europe's leading military aircraft development centres. Activities include:
Warton has produced aircraft including the English Electric Canberra, Lightning, Jaguar, Tornado and Eurofighter Typhoon, and today supports future combat-air programmes.
Samlesbury is one of the UK's most advanced aerospace manufacturing facilities.
Major structures for the Eurofighter Typhoon and the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II are manufactured at Samlesbury using automated production systems and precision engineering.
| Programme | Lancashire Contribution |
|---|---|
| Eurofighter Typhoon | Design, fuselage manufacture, assembly, testing and upgrades |
| F-35 Lightning II | Rear fuselage and aircraft structures |
| Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer | Production and long-term support |
| Panavia Tornado | Development, production and support |
| Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) | Next-generation combat aircraft research and development |
Research undertaken in Lancashire includes:
The Academy for Skills & Knowledge (ASK), based at Samlesbury, provides apprenticeship, graduate and professional development programmes covering aerospace engineering, advanced manufacturing, robotics, composites, digital engineering and emerging technologies.
Since opening, the academy has trained many thousands of apprentices, graduates and experienced engineers, helping to sustain Lancashire's highly skilled aerospace workforce.
The BAE Systems facilities at Warton and Samlesbury form the core of the Lancashire Aerospace Enterprise Zone, attracting a large network of suppliers, research organisations and advanced manufacturing companies. The region is one of the UK's most significant aerospace and defence clusters.
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1939 | Aircraft manufacturing begins at Samlesbury |
| 1940s | Production of Hampden and Halifax bombers |
| 1950s | Canberra and Lightning programmes |
| 1960s–1980s | Jaguar, Tornado and Concorde component manufacture |
| 1999 | Formation of BAE Systems |
| 2000s | Eurofighter Typhoon and F-35 production |
| 2016 | Academy for Skills & Knowledge opens |
| Present | GCAP, FalconWorks and advanced aerospace research |
BAE Systems' Lancashire facilities combine more than eighty years of aircraft design, engineering and manufacturing with cutting-edge research into future combat aviation. Warton and Samlesbury continue to play a pivotal role in the United Kingdom's aerospace industry, supporting innovation in advanced manufacturing, autonomous systems, digital engineering and next-generation aircraft.