Overview
- Aeralis has entered administration, with David Buchler and Joanne Milner of Buchler Phillips appointed to explore rescue options, a sale, or an IP transfer.
- The board and administrators cited delays to the UK Defence Investment Plan as a key strain on cash flow, while BBC reporting says Qatar’s Barzan Holdings pulled support due to regional pressures.
- Barzan had backed Aeralis since 2021 with £10.5 million, added a convertible loan in 2023, and lifted its stake to 24.9% in early May before support was withdrawn.
- The Ministry of Defence says the fast‑jet trainer competition continues with no final decision, as bids such as a UK‑assembled T‑7 Red Hawk and Leonardo’s M‑346 remain in play.
- About 30 jobs have been lost, and with Aeralis’s Dart trainer still at the digital‑design stage, administrators say the company’s designs and other intellectual property may be sold to preserve value.