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CAVU Aerospace UK: Scottish engineering at the furthest frontier

From Scotland to deep space, CAVU Aerospace UK is powering critical missions far beyond Earth. Its advanced onboard computing places Scottish engineering at the heart of global space exploration.

12 May 2026 | 6 minute read

When the eyes of the world were on Artemis II, humanity’s next great step into space, NASA deployed mission‑critical technology built in Scotland. 

This space engineering was the creation of CAVU Aerospace UK, a Scottish space company whose technology is operating at the very edge of human exploration: the furthest humans have ever reached into space. 

From its base in Stirling, the innovative firm has established itself as one of the world’s few specialists in On Board Computers (OBCs). These are the critical command and data handling systems that power modern satellites. 

A global space trajectory from Scotland

CAVU Aerospace UK’s success has translated into global demand. Today, its products are exported to the US, France, Germany, Japan, Australia, South Korea, Brazil, Spain, Poland, and the Czech Republic. It supplies customers across commercial, institutional and government markets with an order pipeline of around £10 million.

As the UK’s only microchip hardware design partner, the firm is helping to shape the next generation of mission ready space computing. Its technological capability puts it at the heart of major global programmes such as the High Performance Spaceflight Computing (HPSC) programme with NASA and Microchip. This ensures the company can continuously upgrade its products with latest processor technology like PIC64 & PolarFire2.

Ali Maani, CEO, CAVU Aerospace UK

Scotland’s strategic space advantage 

For CAVU Aerospace UK, being based in Scotland is a strategic advantage. The company draws on a highly skilled engineering workforce, and a space ecosystem shaped by close collaboration between industry, academia and public‑sector partners. 

The firm has recently secured contracts with NEC in Japan, exporting Scottish‑built thermal control technology into one of the world’s most competitive technology ecosystems. In Asia, Scottish Enterprise in market specialist, Mercedes McCambridge, is helping to strengthen the firm’s profile. The company’s next generation satellite cameras, powered by Sony image sensors, are set to build even greater momentum in 2026.

This global reach has been supported by Scotland’s outward‑facing approach to trade and collaboration. Access to international networks, market intelligence and specialist in‑market support has helped the firm strengthen relationships, build visibility and interest into long‑term commercial contracts.

International support: a catalyst for global growth

Scottish Enterprise’s international team has played a key role in supporting CAVU Aerospace UK. International Growth Support (IGS) funding has enabled the company to build its presence at critical global industry events throughout 2025, such as:

•    The Small Satellite Conference in Utah
•    International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Sydney
•    Representation at Space Tech Expo Europe in Bremen

Scottish Enterprise Trade Specialist, Andrew Dickson, introduced the company to French rocket firm, HyprSpace at the Space Tech Expo Bremen 2024. This resulted in a long-term contract to supply OBCs for 10-12 launches annually. 

This support has helped CAVU Aerospace UK open doors into priority markets and given it visibility, introductions, and market intelligence to compete with the world’s best space organisations.

Representation at the Small Satellite Conference 2025

CAVU Aerospace UK’s trade mission presence at the Small Satellite Conference in Utah was a pivotal moment for Scotland’s space sector by promoting Scottish companies on the global stage. Scotland had one of the most visible presences at the event with 12 Scottish companies attending, with six supported by our international team. 

The mission’s solid commercial success included:

  • 89+ trade enquiries logged, including those from Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems, Amazon Kuiper and Amazon Web Services (AWS)
  • Confirmation from AWS to host a “Meet the Buyer” event in Glasgow
  • Expressions of interest from the Utah Governor’s Office in forming an Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Space Scotland

Ali Maani, CEO at CAVU Aerospace UK, sums up: “These results underscore how coordinated Scottish Enterprise-led delegations can accelerate international engagement. They also open new market pathways, and raise Scotland’s profile as a serious and strategic partner in the global space supply chain."

CAVU Aerospace UK’s story illustrates what global customers gain when they work with Scottish space companies: proven delivery into the world’s most demanding missions, access to advanced and flight‑ready technologies, and partners who combine agility with deep technical expertise.

When the world watches the next great journeys into deep space, Scottish space engineering is not just observing from the sidelines: it’s already part of the mission.

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