Marshall Aerospace has strengthened its leadership in the UK’s unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) sector by securing five SAIL Mark assessment projects. Funded by Innovate UK and the Department for Transport through a Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) grant programme, the assessments will help UAS manufacturers progress toward operational authorisation.
Marshall’s evaluations cover SAIL II (low) and SAIL III (moderate) risk levels, supporting applications from agriculture to security. The scope includes both drones and independent flight termination systems.
Mark Hewer, Director for Aero Engineering Services, said: “We are proud to have been selected as a trusted engineering partner. Our UAS assessment business is becoming a catalyst for growth in the UK’s drone sector, lowering barriers for new entrants while providing authoritative guidance for the safe introduction of new technologies.”
Launched by the CAA in March 2025, SAIL Mark is an independent technical assurance process enabling operators in the Specific Category to evidence drone safety. Marshall was among the first UK organisations to achieve Recognised Assessment Entity for Flightworthiness (RAE(F)) status, authorising it to conduct such assessments.
Marshall will provide applicants and the CAA with independent flightworthiness reports, including compliance analysis and SAIL Mark recommendations. The CAA then determines whether to award the mark.
Under the grant framework, UK and international UAS manufacturers applied for fully-funded assessments. Recipients were nominated by experts from Innovate UK and the CAA, with assessments scheduled for completion by July 2026.
