Middle East: “ARC Aero Delivers Economic Boost to UK Aviation”
UK-based ARC Aero Systems, who is developing a hybrid-powered Pegasus, P9 and C600 aircraft, announced last week its wider-scale manufacturing is moving to Saudi Arabia, reports businessairnews.com.
A deal between ARC and Riyadh-headquartered defence and security manufacturing specialist, Life Shield, will open the way for upwards of USD384 million of investment for the two nations’ aerospace sectors.
ARC is in the advanced stages of developing a specially adapted hybrid-electric powered aircraft which it plans to bring to market by 2026. The modified design of the Avian Pegasus, a tried and tested jump take-off gyroplane with VTOL capability, requires little or no infrastructure to access remote communities and supporting emergency responders. This newly developed air taxi has approval from the FAA and can transport passengers for commercial purposes.
ARC is also developing a larger nine-seat Linx P9 rotorcraft and the C600, one of the largest civilian unmanned aerial vehicles, capable of carrying payloads of up to 100kg across long distances.
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The article states, “Supported by Saudi Arabia’s National Industry Development Centre, this partnership will see both the Saudi Government and Life Shield make an equity investment in ARC Systems to create a new company, Life Shield Aerospace, based in the Middle East.”
It goes on, “The newly formed company will bolster UK manufacturing with the pilot production of each of ARC’s three designs: The Pegasus, P9 and C600. Life Shield will then set up facilities for wider scale manufacturing of aircraft in Saudi Arabia for domestic use by the country’s Ministry of Air Transport and for worldwide export. The agreement includes UK-based pilot training at Cranfield University, Bedfordshire.”
As well as providing a major boost to UK aviation and manufacturing, the global partnership marks another key step forward for ARC Aero as it prepares to launch into a market estimated to grow from its current value of around USD9 billion to USD45 billion by 2030.
ARC Founder and CEO, Dr Seyed Mosheni, commented, “Not only does Life Shield support our company in bringing its innovative solutions to market, it also provides a huge economic boost to UK aviation by promoting manufacturing, further R&D and academic collaboration within the sector.”
He continued, “The Saudi Government’s National Industry Development Centre has shown a real commitment in bringing this partnership to fruition and structuring it to ensure it will deliver reciprocal benefits to both countries. This collaboration positions our company to become a major player in the aerospace sector by the end of this decade.”
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Hisham AlJuma’an, Chairman of Life Shield, added, “Along with the benefits it will deliver in the UK, this strategic partnership enhances industrial cooperation and promote the exchange of expertise between leading companies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and others in this field. This also supports the goals of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.”
Saudi Arabia is forecasting huge growth in its aviation sector, with passenger numbers expected to treble to 330 million per year by 2034. This underlines the potential of the region’s air industry, particularly for advanced air mobility.
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(News Source: https://businessairnews.com)
(Top image: ARC Founder and CEO Dr Seyed Mosheni and Hisham AlJuma’an, Chairman of Life Shield)
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