This article is based on an official press release from Leonardo.

Leonardo and 2Excel Aviation Awarded RAeS Bronze Medal for Excalibur Flight Test Aircraft

Leonardo and 2Excel Aviation have been jointly awarded the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) Team Bronze Medal, a prestigious accolade recognizing their rapid engineering achievements on the Excalibur Flight Test Aircraft (FTA). Announced on December 2, 2025, the award highlights the successful transformation of a commercial Boeing 757 into a sophisticated “flying laboratory” designed to support the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP).

The Excalibur project represents a critical component of the UK’s strategy to develop a sixth-generation combat aircraft, often referred to as Tempest. According to the official announcement from Leonardo, the RAeS medal specifically honors the “extraordinary efforts,” “pace,” and “agility” demonstrated by the joint team in modifying the airframe to host complex military avionics.

This recognition comes shortly after the team successfully completed the first phase of flight trials, which validated the aerodynamic stability of the aircraft while carrying substantial external modifications.

Engineering a Sixth-Generation Testbed

The Excalibur FTA is a retired Boeing 757-200 commercial airliner that has been heavily modified to test the advanced technology required for future combat scenarios. The primary mission of the aircraft is to de-risk the development of the ISANKE & ICS (Integrated Sensing and Non-Kinetic Effects and Integrated Communications Systems) domain.

By utilizing a large commercial airframe, the engineering team can install and test heavy, power-intensive sensors, such as radar, electronic warfare suites, and communications nodes, in a live flight environment long before the actual GCAP fighter prototype takes to the skies. This approach allows for real-time data monitoring by scientists on board the aircraft.

Phase 1 Success and Modifications

According to the press release and project updates, the award follows the completion of Phase 1 flight trials. These trials focused on safety and aerodynamics, ensuring the aircraft could fly stable with significant structural additions. Key modifications tested during this phase include:

• Cheek Fairings: Large structures attached to the fuselage designed to house lateral sensor arrays.
• Ventral Pods: Underbelly housings for additional communications and sensor equipment.
• Nose Cone Architecture: Preparations for a fighter-jet style nose cone to accommodate the Multi-Function Radio Frequency System (MFRS).

Industry Collaboration and Agile Development

The Royal Aeronautical Society’s decision to award the Team Bronze Medal underscores the effectiveness of the partnership between a major defense prime, Leonardo, and a specialized aviation services SME, 2Excel Aviation. The collaboration is cited by the UK Ministry of Defence as a model for “agile” defense procurement, prioritizing speed and innovation over traditional, slower development cycles.

In the official release, executives from both companies emphasized the unique challenges posed by the program.

“This award from the Royal Aeronautical Society recognizes the extraordinary efforts of the team and acknowledges the significant contribution that their work is making to the UK’s future combat air capability. The success of Excalibur reflects the strong partnership between Leonardo and 2Excel. Together, we are helping the programme break new ground while demonstrating pace and agility to meet the ambitious timelines of GCAP.”

, Anthony Todd, Project Chief Engineer, Leonardo

Steve Riley, Executive Director of 2Excel Aviation, noted the historical significance of the engineering pace achieved by the team.

“This programme has presented challenges in the UK aerospace industry that have not been present for decades. The team has met them head-on… demonstrating unparalleled pace throughout.”

, Steve Riley, Executive Director, 2Excel Aviation

AirPro News Analysis

The awarding of the RAeS Bronze Medal to the Excalibur team highlights a pivotal shift in how next-generation air dominance platforms are developed. Historically, avionics testing often waited for the availability of a representative military airframe, which could delay systems integration by years. By repurposing a Boeing 757, the GCAP partners are effectively decoupling the sensor development timeline from the airframe development timeline.

We observe that this “digital-first” and “test-early” methodology is essential for meeting the aggressive 2035 service entry target for the Tempest fighter. The ability to fly live sensors in 2025 suggests that the UK and its partners (Italy and Japan) are prioritizing the maturity of the “brain” of the aircraft, the ISANKE & ICS, just as much as the stealth characteristics of the airframe itself.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Excalibur Flight Test Aircraft?

Excalibur is a modified Boeing 757-200 used as a flying laboratory to test sensors and communications technology for the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP).

What is the Royal Aeronautical Society Bronze Medal?

It is an award recognizing significant contributions to the advancement of aerospace art, science, and engineering, often highlighting team achievements in innovation.

When will the GCAP fighter enter service?

The Global Combat Air Programme aims to deliver a sixth-generation combat aircraft for service entry by 2035.

Sources

Leonardo