Modini Ltd

Company Profile

Modini specialise in the design, development, test, evaluation and operational delivery of complex uncrewed systems (UxS). Our focus is on the analysis and full-scale delivery of innovative and disruptive technical solutions for government and commercial clients worldwide. We bring expertise, precision, adaptability and flexibility to nuanced situations, delivering long-lasting results.

Products

Avionics

We use a mix of custom designed and off-the-shelf products which we adapt using our own avionics engineers and software developers to create a unique solution for our uncrewed systems.

Engines

Modini has designed and built the GT 500 specifically to meet the low-cost demands of the OWE market, retaining high end but critical systems. It is the first in a new family of two stage engines from Modini.

Fuelling

Our bespoke fuelling solutions incorporate fuel tanks, pressurised mobile filling systems, nozzles and fittings which are used across our platform product range.

Launch

Our innovative launch solutions enable rapid deployment and reloading for our UxS platforms on land or from a maritime platform.

Platforms

Modini specialise in the rapid development of uncrewed platforms to operate in nuanced and austere conditions – ranging from multi-rotor to fixed-wing – utilising electric, jet or gas turbine propulsion systems.

Services

UxS Design & Engineering

Platform Design – Modini’s ‘design, build, iterate, improve, deliver’ approach is combined with our technical capabilities to enable our in-house engineering teams to provide full-spectrum design of uncrewed platforms and sub-systems. This is done at a high pace to deliver rapid technical solutions to our clients for specialist and complex industry challenges. Our services include:

Avionics Engineering – Our FX-series of highly capable Flight Controllers are excellent case studies for Modini’s avionics development capabilities. These cover communications package and sensor design, integration and optimisation, PCB design, coding and testing. Our engineers are very familiar with MavLink and its common interfaces, they can also design interface systems to enable communications between dissimilar equipment.

Powertrain Development – Modini has designed, developed and built our own gas turbine engines, ECUs and fuelling systems, but our capabilities extend to test and enhancement of third-party engines and motors, whether carbon fuelled or powered by batteries.

Prototyping – We have a comprehensive process for building, testing and quality assuring prototyping of uncrewed systems from 2kg to >100kg. This covers laser cutting and/or 5-axis milling of metallurgical items, 3D printing and (where appropriate) hand layup of reinforced glass/carbon fibre items, as well as build of electronic components and coding of engine and avionics software.

Sensors & Payload Integration – An adjacent capability to our avionics design and test capabilities, Modini’s engineers are very experienced at integrating both passive and active sensors, comms systems and other payloads. These cover wide areas of the electromagnetic, including RF, visible light and infrared. With our partners in the UK supply chain, we can also design, integrate and build complex sensor integrations to provide guidance and situational awareness for uncrewed platforms.

Flight Test & Trials – Modini has significant experience and capabilities in Operating Safety Case generation and approval, leading into comprehensive test flight programmes and subsequent entry into service. We have carried this out for the UK SAR programme for long range VTOL systems as well as our own platforms.

In addition, Global Ballistic Solutions (part of Modini Group) provides a secure, indoor environment that allows testing without any aviation regulatory requirements. Therefore, small to medium UAS can be operated to gather appropriate data before presentation to the requisite national aviation authorities. Based in Devizes, Wiltshire, the test facility and demonstration range is accessible whatever the weather and is unparalleled in the UK, using the most up-to-date and sophisticated instrumentation available that give results unaffected by meteorological conditions. GBS can also provide test firings of weapons up to 30mm calibre if required.

UxS Consultancy

Market Analysis – Modini’s highly experienced leadership team have significant market knowledge and understanding. This can be utilised to support customers looking to develop new products or sub-systems and wishing to validate the estimated market size and accessibility.

Solution Development – Our deep technical and regulatory understanding of Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) uncrewed operations in the UK and abroad enables Modini’s technical teams to provide the latest advice on platform capabilities, system integration and operational planning to our clients. This extends into areas such as regulation, compliance, market analysis and future capability.

Regulation & Certification – With some of the most expert SQEP available in the uncrewed and space domains Modini is exceptionally well placed to provide technical assessments, Operating Safety Case generation for regulatory approvals and specific certification requirements for a wide range of uncrewed and space systems. This includes civil and military certification competence in the UK and abroad.

Training – Modini’s expert pilots and engineers provide classroom-based and operational (in-the-field) training on both Modini and third-party systems. This can be at customer facilities around the globe, or at Modini’s Pewsey head office and nearby airfield.

Operational Delivery – Modini is the industry leader supporting customers to develop operational flight and maintenance of uncrewed platforms where agility, flexibility and momentum are the core tenets to success. We specialise in Class 2 and above BVLOS platforms with our expertise covering rotary and fixed wing platforms on land and at sea for civil and military applications in demanding and austere conditions.

Our technical specialists fuse precision planning with technological innovation to ensure operational availability and outputs are maximised. Most importantly, we recognise that what works for one customer may be unsuitable for another, aiming to create the right solutions that are common where possible, bespoke where needed.

Space Consultancy

High Altitude & Exo Atmospheric Regulation – Modini employs industry leading Space regulation Subject Matter Experts. We are providing advice to civil and military government agencies in both the UK and abroad on high altitude and low earth orbit (LEO) regulation.

Operational Safety Cases – Modini’s team of regulatory experts have all held very senior positions in the UK military and CAA for space related Operational Safety Case (OSC) development and delivery. This has led to regulatory and safety case design leadership for international governmental clients for spaceport launches.

Operational Delivery – Employing industry leading experts in the design and delivery of space facilities, Modini’s team is hugely capable of driving forward the operational delivery of spaceports and infrastructure development.

Commercialisation of Space – The rapid development of commercial opportunities for low-cost space operators means that the commercial market is changing at pace. Modini’s space team is at the forefront of this and is able to offer cogent insights on how spaceport and satellite launch operators can best position to take advantage of these opportunities.

Spaceport Design & Development – With expertise generated through the UK and international spaceport design and delivery, Modini’s team provide expert inputs on the design and development of spaceport facilities.