GKN Aerospace's activities in the rotary wing sector cover almost every area of this fast-growing business.

GKN Aerospace flexible fuel systems and fuel bladders have a worldwide reputation with products qualified for over 40 types of aircraft, missiles and UAV's. In the rotary-wing market, the Company's fuel bladders equip the EH101, the Apache, the Lynx, the EC135 and EC145 helicopters and for four decades the Company has maintained and updated the supply of fuel pods for the UK RAF Chinook.

The Company also designs, manufactures and installs the emergency flotation systems for many civil and military helicopters including the Hindustan ALH, the Sikorsky S-92, the EH101, the Westland Sea King and Lynx, the MIL8/17, the Bell 212, UH-1H and 427 and the Boeing CH-46 'Sea Knight'. Most recently, the Company has been awarded the contract to develop and supply the extended flotation system for the Sikorsky S-92 – a system which will enable the helicopter to operate in the extreme Sea State 6 conditions which occur in the North Sea.

GKN Aerospace's metallic and composite assemblies are critical to the airframe of many helicopters. The complete fuselage for the AgustaWestland Lynx is supplied by GKN Aerospace and, in 2006, the Company also gained the contract for the complete assembled airframe for 70 new UK RAF and RN SuperLynx helicopters.

In transparencies, where GKN Aerospace has a market lead, the Company supplies the windows and windscreens for many helicopters including the AH-64 Apache, the H-60 Black Hawk and the Westland Lynx. GKN Aerospace is a world leader in thin film coatings including low observability (RF screening), solar / ultraviolet filters, transparent erosion protection and transparent scratch resistant coatings, and electrical de-icing and de-misting.

In addition, the Company's growing electrical de-icing systems business has been selected for every major electrical de-icing contract awarded to date, and forms the advanced ice protection system for the rotor blades of the EH101.