John Stretton, the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) director of aerospace, defence and security looks back on his career journey across aerospace and defence sectors.

My first taste of the aerospace industry was during my time with Rover Group under the ownership of British Aerospace with responsibility for global military sales in international markets, trading with 72 militaries worldwide. While my role was focused on automotive and land systems, I had the opportunity to work on a project with the RAF about the logistics of airdropping vehicles. We had to ensure each vehicle type could fit into a Chinook helicopter, and that the vehicles could be launched from the aircraft using parachutes to make sure they landed safely.

From there, my career gradually focused in on defence and aerospace. I joined Ricardo in 2013 to work as the global lead for defence operations, supporting programmes such as Foxhound and WMIK for the UK Ministry of Defence. Then, in 2021, I was approached by Leonardo to take on its communications and force protection division - as part of this, leading Project Team Tempest. We worked on developing the next-generation communication set, looking at denied GPS environments, communications beyond line of sight, in both manned and unmanned aircraft. I’ve now worked at the Manufacturing Technology Centre as director of aerospace, defence and security since 2022.

Throughout my 40-year career, I’ve seen how additive manufacturing has risen from traditional welding methods to offering game changing opportunities. As a result, lead times have been reduced significantly. In the past, jet engine casings could have taken 18 months to procure, meaning high volumes were kept in storage with expensive humidity and temperature controls and regular checks for integrity. Procurement to supply now takes three -six months – a dramatic shift which strengthens supply chains hugely. While the manufacturing process can be more expensive, the cost savings of no longer having to maintain high quantities of stock vastly outweigh the increased expenditure.

I’ve also seen how crucial it is to have an easy-to-access alternative part supply in defence. One way we’re making improvements in this area is by supporting Airbus’ ‘Wings of Tomorrow’ programme, which is supported by government investment through ATI. Our leading National Centre for Additive Manufacturing is researching metal powder alternatives to traditional metallic structures, which have the same integrity, but are quicker to manufacture and lightweight, improving fuel efficiency and reducing downtime.

In the UK, we’re  facing a skills shortage. We don’t have enough people with the right skills to supplement our industrial growth, so it’s going to be difficult to reach the scale of manufacturing needed. We’re trying to fix this issue – MTC Training offers specialist programmes designed to close the skills gap, but the wider defence industry faces a range of challenges in attracting the next generation of  engineers. The diversity of technology and rapidity of change is fascinating. The long-term programmes offer fantastic job security. The nature of the job gives you the opportunity to  work with brilliant, like-minded people who all share the same goal of innovation.

Looking ahead, I’m expecting there to be more research and development into space-bound drones. They could be carried by a rocket ship, and then released to function like satellites in geostationary orbit to provide information and help coordinate other airborne activity. Or they could be used for exploration, searching for alternative sources of gas, water and other resources. There’s no doubt that if our population growth continues, sourcing vital minerals from space will have to be robustly explored to sustain our lifestyles worldwide. The challenges will be immense, societally and technologically, but in my opinion, it’s inevitable.

As I continue my time at MTC, I remain optimistic about the industry's capacity for growth, adaptation, and continued innovation. With a focus on fostering talent, embracing new technologies, and exploring novel frontiers, I am confident that the aerospace and defence sector will not only meet the challenges ahead but also thrive in shaping a safer, more connected future for generations to come.

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