2026
NP Aerospace marks 100 years of production in Coventry, UK – a major landmark for the company as it continues to expand its global exports. Whilst in Canada, the business celebrates more than 30 years of operations, securing new armour contracts and kicking off a new phase of rapid growth. In the past two years the company has doubled its Canadian facility floorspace and achieved a five-fold increase in employees.
The vehicle business enters full rate production, with the upgraded armoured Toyota Land Cruiser LC300 vehicle, responding to global demand. Women’s armour production ramps up following the first large scale military contract.
NP Aerospace forms a strategic partnership with ITEN Defense, a US-based specialist in opaque and transparent armour technologies to deliver an enhanced, locally supported specialist armour and survivability engineering offering to the US market, alongside selected wider global opportunities.
The company continues to work in partnership with GM Defense and BAE Systems – as Team LionStrike – to offer the UK Ministry of Defence a mobility solution to rapidly modernise its ground vehicle fleet.
2025
NP Aerospace secures mid-tier company status, achieving a turnover of over £50 million, taking on increasingly more complex projects from a portfolio of large military and security contracts.
A year of significant growth for the company saw the opening of a new 5.73-acre facility in Coventry, supporting UK job creation and global defence needs and the expansion of British composite manufacturing capacity with the installation of five new state-of-the-art presses.
Above: L-R James Kempston, CEO NP Aerospace, Mary Creagh CBE, MP for Coventry East, David Petheram, MD and SVP VSSS
NP Aerospace extends its through-life support services package into the Civilian Armoured Vehicles (CAVs) market and announces the launch of the upgraded armoured Toyota Land Cruiser LC300 vehicle.
BAE Systems joins GM Defense and NP Aerospace as team LionStrike, to offer the UK MOD a mobility solution to rapidly modernise its ground vehicle fleet for the Land Mobility Programme (LMP). Team LionStrike unveils the General Support Utility Platform, which is one of the core vehicles for the LMP bid.
New products unveiled in 2025 include the new specialist Women’s Body Armour range, developed to meet the distinct needs of women operating in high-risk environments and the new high-grade lightweight BZ API multi shot plate, designed to stop armour-piercing ammunition.
2024
NP Aerospace acquires the assets of Jankel Armouring Limited, expanding its portfolio to include light tactical vehicles, civilian armoured vehicles, armour technologies, seating systems and through life support services.
The company wins the UK MOD Conventional Vehicle Systems Spares and Post Design Services contract worth over £70m, whilst being awarded the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Additional vehicle integration collaborations included Raytheon UK, MOOG and Leonardo.
Helmet production capability ramps up to 60,000 units manufactured during the year.
2023
NP Aerospace splits into two new business units to support future business growth: Composites and Armour Systems and Vehicle Systems, Services and Spares. The company achieved fourfold revenue growth in 2023 due to an increase in global programmes.
The company organised its largest DSEI trade show presence in London highlighting multiple new military vehicle collaborations including GM Defense, ST Engineering, Nurol Makina UK.
In addition, Coventry helmet manufacturing capacity continued to increase with a new contract with Galvion.
2022
NP Aerospace supports global operations with a large scale body armour programme, taking the total amount of life-saving equipment to date to over 180,000 ballistic armour plates, along with bomb disposal suits and ballistic helmets. An additional 90 people were recruited in Coventry to support urgent manufacturing requirements.
At the same time, the company was awarded the silver armed forces covenant for its work with veterans.
2021
Significant growth in the company’s bomb disposal suit portfolio is achieved in line with the launch of the new NIJ certified 4030 ELITE suit which is now used all over the world.
Vehicle technology innovation increased with the launch of the first hybrid electric drive prototype working with the UK MOD. NP Aerospace was instrumental in the UN Mali operation with the launch of development of the Ridgback and Mastiff XC offroad platforms used by the British Army. The team in Coventry also started work on the Coventry light railway project in partnership with TDI.
2020
Law enforcement programmes increase with the launch of the CAST certified ballistic plate in the UK. Vehicle armour programmes continue with the delivery of the FFG Weisel airborne tank carrier contract in Germany. In Canada the team continue to work on the $33m Canadian DND helmet contract. A new NP Aerospace factory opens in London, Ontario.
2019
NP Aerospace expands the business under new ownership and kicks off a global recruitment drive and development program.
The Canadian manufacturing facility is extended as part of plans to expand into the US market. The LASA Soldier System Portfolio is expanded with new tactical shields and new ballistic plates targeting law enforcement and security markets. The US Navy is the latest to contract for the LASA LWBIII+ Maritime Buoyant Plates.
In Europe, the company wins a major Protected Mobility Fleet Program Contract with the UK Ministry of Defence worth over £63m, making it the engineering authority. Vehicle armour contracts increase with a new program for the German Army’s WIESEL Platform. New market sectors are targeted such as the Very Light Rail Sector with a new build program underway.
2018
NP Aerospace Ltd. and its subsidiaries are acquired from Morgan Advanced Materials and rebranded as NP Aerospace. James Kempston, newly appointed CEO leads the acquisition with Canadian investment.
2016
A suite of ultra-lightweight LASA body armour plates is launched to meet the needs of military and law enforcement personnel. Standalone and ‘in-conjunction with’ body armour plates are available for NIJ Level III and special threats plates e.g. SS109 ‘Green Tip’, BZ and API ammunition.
The company wins a prestigious contract with the UK Ministry of Defence for the delivery of bespoke ballistic shields which are 20% lighter than previous technology and deliver outstanding multi-hit protection.
2015
As more off the shelf armour products are launched to serve our worldwide customer base, the company launches a series of brands – LASA personal protection, Silverback bomb disposal suits and CAMAC platform armour.
The company is contracted by the Canadian Department of National Defence to deliver the next generation CM735 Combat Helmet – 23% lighter than the previous generation helmet shell with higher fragment protection.
2014
The Mastiff Post Design Services contract is issued by the UK Ministry of Defence supporting vehicles returning from Afghanistan.
The LASA LWBIII+ IC06 body armour plate is launched weighing less than 1kg making it the most advanced body armour for NIJ 0101.06 Level III and special threats.
The company develops and manufactures a ground-breaking CAMAC Composite Survivability Capsule for TATA Motors for their LAMV 4×4 light patrol vehicle. This composite pod integration was a key weight saving enabler.
2012
The company is commissioned by Vectus to develop a specialist composite Personal Rapid Transit pod for the Suncheon Bay wetlands reserve in South Korea. Morgan merged Aceram Canada and NP Aerospace together in 2012 forming NP Aerospace as a global business unit and later (in 2014) renamed it to Morgan Advanced Materials Composites and Defence Systems.
2010
NP Aerospace CAMAC vehicle spall liner starts to gain traction and is used for global OEM vehicle platforms, delivering lightweight multi hit protection at up to 50% less weight than equivalent steel armour solutions.
2009
The MK7 combat helmet is introduced under UOR (urgent operational requirement) for the UK Ministry of Defence. Utilising breakthrough composite technology. The spares business starts to expand with 3.5 million spare parts distributed.
2008
The company armours over 380 MAN Trucks for the UK Ministry of Defence for operations in Afghanistan.
2007
NP Aerospace is sold by Courtaulds to Reinhold Industries. In 2007 the NP management team supported by Morgan Crucible buy business from Carlyle Group.
2006
The first Mastiff, a heavily armoured, 6 x six-wheel-drive patrol vehicle is armoured and integrated for the UK Ministry of Defence for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Over the next eight years over 750 Cougar vehicles are delivered including Mastiff, Ridgback, Wolfhound and Buffalo platforms.
A new site opens on Red Lane in Coventry, the headquarters of our Vehicle Systems, Services & Spares site, today, employing 450 people and over 200 temporary staff. On the personal protection side of the business, there was significant growth in production of British Army Osprey ballistic plates.
In July of 2006 Morgan Advanced Materials announced the purchase of the Canadian Aceram business, signalling a move into the N.American market.
2005
NP Aerospace Jordan Ltd JV opens for the production of helmets, body armour and ballistic plates for Middle East and Africa.
2002
A major helmet contract for the Greek Army was secured – the AC200 – designed for specialist users.
Early 2000s
The company produces its first civilian armoured vehicle in conjunction with Bentley.
2000
The company changes the face of cycling by creating the world’s first single piece carbon fibre bike frame using cutting edge blown tube technology.
The bike frame was used by Team GB cyclist Jason Queally MBE as he won gold at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games 1km time trial.
1999
NP Aerospace Limited was formed, consolidating activity onto the 473 Foleshill Rd site, the HQ of the Composites and Armour Systems business today. The NP Aerospace brand name was created, due to the company’s heritage in plastics and composites for airlines and automotive. At this time vehicle sales started to increase into export markets such as Finland and Botswana.
1998
Courtaulds Structural Composites absorbed into the NP business. Carbon composite seat backs and medical couches became additional product centres. A partnership is secured with Varian Medical Systems, a leading manufacturer of radiotherapy delivery systems, to develop a more advanced couch top for radiotherapy. The outcome was a carbon fibre based couch, delivering a strong yet highly transparent solution, absorbing a minimal amount of radio waves. The partnership is still going strong today.
1994
The MK6 Bomb Disposal Suit was manufactured for the UK MOD for use in Northern Ireland, the first of the company’s portfolio of EOD and de-mining suits for military and security applications.
1993
A partnership is secured with Varian Medical Systems, a leading manufacturer of radiotherapy delivery systems, to develop a more advanced couch top for radiotherapy. The outcome was a carbon fibre based couch, delivering a strong yet highly transparent solution, absorbing a minimal amount of radio waves. The partnership is still going strong today.
1992
The Snatch Land Rover, the world’s first fully composite armoured vehicle is designed and fielded in Coventry for operations in Northern Ireland at a run rate of 20 vehicles per week (1,000 vehicles in total). Business operates under the name of Courtaulds Advanced Materials. ECBA Body Armour starts production and an order for 90,000 helmets for the Swedish Army commences.
1990
NP Aerospace starts manufacturing ceramic rifle protection plates for the Combat Body Armour (CBA) standard-issue ballistic vest used by the British Armed Forces, offering a lightweight alternative to the previous INIBA plates used in Northern Ireland.
1989
An onsite ballistic range and laboratory is opened for testing which would later be accredited to ISO 17025 by UKAS.
Late 1980s
The business sees growth in exports, with the introduction of theAC100 Special Forces helmets, AC200 helmets for Switzerland, shields and helmets for the French Army. NP becomes part of Courtaulds Advanced Materials Group. Air Crew and Tank Crew helmet contracts secured. Meanwhile MK6 helmets become mainstream for British Army.
1983
First 1,000 MK6 helmet prototypes produced including new multi impact liner.
1982
The Falklands War started. NP Aerospace supplying British military with protective equipment and components for field electrical plugs and sockets, trip wire flare bodies and torpedo insulators.
1981
NP Aerospace starts making ballistic plates for the British Mk 2 Body Armour, also known as the Improved Northern Ireland Body Armour (INIBA) system to protect soldiers in Northern Ireland.
1979
NP Aerospace enters the defence market with production of the MK6 helmet for the British Army and starts to make components for a major UK MOD field storage system called Bins Interlocking which was assembled by Dennis Ferranti Ltd., Bangor, Wales This contract was key to National Plastics winning the GSMK6 Helmet contract and producing over 700,000 of these helmets.
1978
New CEO Roger Medwell takes over and runs the business for the next 30 plus years and the business moves into injection moulding.
1970s
Bakelite being actively used in industries such as automotive and aerospace. This was a lightweight, durable material effective for high volume specialist moulded parts such as steering column shrouds, ashtrays. In the 1970s NP produced 2 million car sets per year for Girling ,Pontypool and AP Hydraulics Leamington.
1963
Due to Courtaulds group’s expertise in artificial fibre manufacture, when the high potential strength of carbon fibre was realized in by the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough in 1963, the process was licensed to them along with Rolls-Royce and Morganite, a subsidiary of Morgan Crucible. Courtaulds mass produce the first production batches in the world of Carbon Fibre (ten times stronger than mild steel when in tension).
1960s
The business commenced the moulding of BRAKE SERVO mouldings for the Car Industry with over 2 million per year assemblies supplied at peak demand.
1959
Courtaulds Purchased National Plastics in 1959 which started to make fibre reinforced plastics for technical applications and later Ekco Plastics in 1978.
1948
Courtaulds open the 473 Foleshill Road site in Coventry, now home to the NP Aerospace Composites and Armour systems Business.
1926
NP Aerospace started life in 1926 as the Bakelite Moulding Department of Courtaulds Engineering Headquarters in Coventry. The company produced box spinning machines for the production of Rayon (artificial silk) for Apparel and Continuous Spinning Machines Rayon for Tyre Cord, before moving into Bakelite components.
In its prime Courtaulds was one of largest employers in UK with 15,000 people in Coventry, and 150,000 people worldwide. The company was continually in the FT Top 10 and was a world leader in Rayon (artificial silk).
1905
Samuel Courtauld obtains a licence to make artificial silk from the Silk Institute in Kew, London and purchases the exclusive rights to Charles Frederick Topham’s unique Box Spinning Machine, becoming pioneers in artificial fibre production for the next six decades.