Carbon ThreeSixty, a leading innovator in advanced composite solutions, is proud to announce its integral role in ASPIRE (Advanced Structural Product Integrated Airframe), a new £12 million UK R&D programme led by GKN Aerospace. This three-year initiative, which officially commenced in May 2025, aims to develop and demonstrate next-generation composite wing and flap structures, accelerating the adoption of sustainable and high-rate manufacturing technologies in the aerospace industry
ASPIRE brings together a consortium of industry leaders and academic experts, including GKN Aerospace, iCOMAT, Lineat, Pentaxia, and the University of Bath, with programme support from Axillium and co-funding from the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI)
Carbon ThreeSixty’s expertise will be crucial in two key areas of the ASPIRE programme:
- Wingtip Demonstrator: Carbon ThreeSixty will contribute to the development of full-scale composite wingtip demonstrators with sub-components. Our specific focus will be on the integration of stitched deltoid noodles using recycled fibres. This innovative approach aligns perfectly with our commitment to sustainable manufacturing and the reduction of aerospace’s environmental footprint.
- Optimised Composite Flap: For the optimised composite flap demonstration, Carbon ThreeSixty will be responsible for the development of tailored fibre placed (TFP) structural brackets. This builds on our strengths in precision fibre placement and will contribute to achieving lightweighting targets for next-generation single-aisle aircraft.
“We are incredibly excited to be a key partner in the ASPIRE programme,” said Andy Smith, Director, CSO at Carbon ThreeSixty. “This collaboration with GKN Aerospace and the other consortium members represents a significant opportunity to push the boundaries of composite technology. Our contributions in processing recycled fibres and tailored fibre placement are central to developing lighter, stronger, and more sustainable aerospace structures. We believe ASPIRE will be instrumental in shaping the future of efficient and environmentally responsible flight.”
The ASPIRE programme will deliver three full-scale composite wingtip variants for structural testing to Ultimate Load, providing invaluable data for validating new technologies in highly relevant test conditions. The programme’s focus on automation, sustainability, and manufacturability perfectly aligns with Carbon ThreeSixty’s strategic vision to provide cutting-edge, high-performance composite solutions that meet the evolving demands of the aerospace sector.
