Spirit AeroSystems (Spirit UK): Industrial Aerostructures and the Limits of European Production Sovereignty

A strategic-technological assessment of Spirit UK’s aerostructures capabilities and relevance to scalable defence production, examined through European strategic autonomy, NATO interoperability

Introduction: Spirit AeroSystems (Spirit UK) is a major aerostructures manufacturer with significant UK operations (formerly Bombardier’s Short Brothers). It supplies critical fuselage, wing and composite structures to leading aircraft programs, serving both civilian (Airbus, Boeing) and military customers[1][2]. Notably, Spirit UK was the prime contrac…