During the Aerospace Growth Partnership announcement at Farnborough International Airshow Thursday, the Deputy Prime Minister was assisted by Cobham's Telemax robot, that helped ensure he stayed hydrated amid the sweltering heat of the airshow's exhibition halls
During
the Aerospace Growth Partnership announcement at Farnborough
International Airshow Thursday, the Deputy Prime Minister was
assisted by Cobham's Telemax robot, that helped ensure he stayed
hydrated amid the sweltering heat of the airshow's exhibition
halls.

The Deputy Prime Minister, who also recently visited Cobham at
its headquarters in Wimborne, was at Farnborough International
Airshow to announce an investment of £154 million in aerospace
research projects. Cobham has received funding from the UK
Aerospace Growth Partnership (AGP) as part of a Thales led effort
to develop smaller, lighter, more flexible and capable future
communications systems for civil aircraft.
The £6.4 million AGP award will fund the HARNet (Harmonised
Antennas, Radios and Networks) strategic research programme to
develop the radio techniques and technologies required for an
Integrated Modular Communications (IMC) system for civil aircraft
using software defined radio technology.
If successful and adopted by civil aircraft Original Equipment
Manufacturers (OEMs), IMC would mean less equipment to be installed
in new aircraft, freeing up critical space, reducing weight and
using less fuel. For the airlines, reduced weight means reduced
costs, higher reliability and safety. Greater fuel efficiency could
mean future airliners would increase passenger capability, improve
operational efficiency and reduce both noise and CO²
emissions.
As part of this project, three Cobham businesses located in
England will participate with support from the University of
Southampton and Queen Mary University of London. The Cobham
contribution will take forward advanced antennas and high data
bandwidth MESH radios.
Pete Raby, Cobham Communications and Connectivity sector
president who is responsible for all three Cobham businesses said:
"Cobham is very pleased and excited to participate in this project.
Our antennas and radios are already very advanced in terms of their
small size, weight and superior capability, but this project will
allow us to investigate advanced concepts and possibly find
additional savings that could lead to further improvements in
future civil aircraft."
About Cobham
Cobham protects lives and livelihoods with its differentiated
technology and know-how, operating with a deep insight to customer
needs, and agility. The Group offers an innovative range of
technologies and services to solve challenging problems in harsh
environments across commercial, defence and security markets, from
deep space to the depths of the ocean. It has market-leading
positions in air-to-air refuelling; aviation services; audio, video
and data communications, including satellite communications;
defence electronics; life support and mission equipment. The most
important thing Cobham builds is trust.
About Aerospace Growth Partnership
The Aerospace Growth Partnership, also known as The AGP, is a
strategic partnership between government and industry which has
been established to secure the future of the UK aerospace industry
for the next 20 years and beyond. The AGP has not only led to a
step change in the relationship between Government and industry, it
has also encouraged UK companies to co-operate more closely in
addressing problems that affect the sector as a whole. The AGP was
established in 2010 as a vehicle to tackle barriers to growth,
boost exports and grow the number of high value jobs in the UK. To
do this the AGP is identifying the market failures that form
barriers to growth and is developing initiatives to address these
specific challenges. For more information please visit www.theagp.aero.