Typical Areas of R&D Activity

• Advanced materials and lightweighting, composite structures, high-performance alloys, joining methods, surface treatments.
• Avionics and control systems, embedded software, redundancy, sensor fusion, guidance and navigation algorithms.
• Propulsion and thermal systems, efficiency improvements, hybrid electric, alternative fuels, heat rejection and sealing.
• Simulation and digital twins, model fidelity, correlation with test, virtual certification and predictive maintenance.
• Manufacturing and inspection, adaptive machining, NDT automation, yield improvement and scrap reduction.
• Security and mission systems, secure comms, real-time processing, hardening and assurance of software components.

Common Challenges

Programmes are complex, multi-party, and tightly regulated, which makes documentation and attribution difficult. Typical hurdles include mapping uncertainty to certification objectives, separating routine qualification from genuine R&D, and capturing subcontracted work across borders while meeting territorial rules.

• Certification alignment, evidence that uncertainty existed beyond established practice.
• Supply chain attribution, who can claim and on which work, including subcontracting arrangements.
• Security constraints, drafting technical narratives without disclosing restricted information.

How We Support You

• Partner-led scoping with systems, structures and software leads, aligned to programme milestones.
• Preparation of technical narratives and financial analysis that meet HMRC expectations for aerospace and defence.
• Review of subcontracting and territorial considerations under the Merged RDEC scheme.
• Comprehensive enquiry defence included as standard, with proactive evidence planning.
• Benchmarking of claim scope and value against sector peers and current reform trends.