The U.K. is launching a key wing design research effort that's intended to support the country's ambitions to secure a place on the Airbus A30X program. The Next-Generation Composite Wing (NGCW) project will examine a broad range of approaches-several radical-covering the design, development and production of an advanced wing. The goal is to mature technology and manufacturing options earlier than in previous development programs. Industry has been lobbying the government's Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Dept. (which replaces the Trade and Industry Dept.) to put in place a strategy for positioning the country to benefit from the next-generation program. The U.K. has traditionally been the Airbus center of excellence for wing design; however, BAE Systems' sale of its stake has raised concern that this position could be undermined.
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