Market Sector

Aerospace Electronics Manufacturing

Aerospace is one of the most demanding environments in electronics manufacturing. Every assembly must perform flawlessly under extremes of temperature, vibration, humidity and pressure — and the consequences of failure are simply not acceptable. Arkle Electronic Systems has been delivering high-reliability electronics for aerospace and defence applications for over 50 years, working with OEMs and system integrators who need a manufacturing partner they can trust absolutely.

Based in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, we sit at the heart of one of the UK's most significant aerospace and defence clusters — home to Airbus Defence and Space, MBDA, Meggitt and a dense network of Tier 1 and Tier 2 aerospace suppliers. That proximity is not incidental. It reflects over five decades of manufacturing relationships with some of the most technically demanding customers in the industry, and it means our team understands what aerospace-grade electronics manufacturing actually requires — in practice, on the production floor, build after build.

Aerospace Applications We Support

Arkle produces complex, high-reliability electronic assemblies for a broad range of aerospace applications, including:

Avionics and flight systems — precision PCB assemblies built to IPC-A-610 Class 2 as standard, with Class 3 capability available where programme specifications require the highest workmanship standard
Navigation and communication systems — mixed-technology assemblies for GPS, datalink, radar and RF communication equipment requiring consistent performance across wide temperature ranges
Surveillance and sensing — electronics for sensor platforms, detection payloads and environmental monitoring systems deployed in airborne applications
Power management and distribution — robust power conversion electronics for aircraft platforms, ground support equipment and unmanned aerial systems
Unmanned aerial systems (UAS/UAV) — assemblies for the growing UAV sector, where board density, weight, reliability and traceability requirements align closely with Arkle's core manufacturing strengths
Ground support and test equipment — high-quality assemblies for the support infrastructure that keeps aerospace platforms operational
Cable and wiring harnesses — custom looms and electro-mechanical harnesses built and tested to IPC/WHMA-A-620, for integration into airborne and ground-based aerospace systems

Our high-mix, low-to-medium volume capability is a natural fit for the aerospace supply chain, where build quantities vary across programme phases and engineering changes must be accommodated without disrupting quality or lead times.

Aerospace customers require more than capable assembly. They require documented processes, auditable quality systems, full material traceability and a manufacturing partner who can demonstrate compliance at every stage of the supply chain.

Arkle's quality credentials include:

ISO 9001:2015 — Quality Management System
ISO 14001:2015 — Environmental Management
Cyber Essentials Plus — Certified 2026
IPC-A-610 — Acceptability of Electronic Assemblies
IPC/WHMA-A-620 — Cable and Harness Assembly Standards
IPC-J-STD-001 — Requirements for Soldering Electrical and Electronic Assemblies
IPC-7711/7721 — Rework, Modification and Repair of Electronic Assemblies
RoHS and WEEE compliant

Every build is supported by comprehensive traceability documentation — component serialisation, lot records, inspection reports and test data — providing the audit trail that aerospace programmes demand. Our Quality Management System gives customers full visibility from goods-in to final despatch, and our processes are structured to support First Article Inspection requirements as part of new programme introduction.

We are committed to continuing development of our quality and security credentials. AS9100 aerospace quality management system certification is a recognised standard in the sector and one we are actively working towards, with a target of attaining certification no later than Q4 2026. Customers with specific AS9100 requirements are welcome to speak to our team directly to discuss their programme timeline and how we can support them in the interim.

Quality, Traceability and Standards

Manufacturing Capabilities for Aerospace

Our Stevenage facility is equipped for the full complexity of modern aerospace electronics assembly:

PCB Assembly

High-speed SMT placement using Panasonic lines, capable of fine-pitch components, mixed-technology boards and complex multi-layer assemblies. Assemblies are produced to IPC-A-610 Class 2 as standard, with Class 3 capability available for programmes requiring the highest workmanship specification. Both leaded and lead-free processes are available to meet programme specifications, with all work produced in an ESD-controlled environment.

Why Aerospace OEMs Choose Arkle

Located in the
UK's aerospace
heartland

Stevenage is home to some of the most significant aerospace and defence organisations in the UK, including Airbus Defence and Space, MBDA and Meggitt — whose own supply chain spans Airbus, BAE Systems, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Rolls-Royce and beyond. Being embedded in this ecosystem for over 50 years means our team has developed a deep, practical understanding of what aerospace customers in this corridor require, and the standards they expect of their manufacturing partners.

50+ years of high-reliability manufacturing experience

Established in 1974, Arkle has been building complex electronics for demanding applications through every generation of the industry. That longevity is a meaningful signal in aerospace procurement — it means proven processes, experienced people and a track record of sustained quality that newer entrants cannot replicate.

UK-based with short lead times and direct communication

Manufactured in Stevenage. No offshore risk, no long-haul logistics, no time zone barriers. When engineering changes occur, when a programme accelerates, or when a quality question arises, our team is reachable and responsive. For aerospace customers who value supply chain security and UK sovereign manufacturing capability, that matters.

A long-term
manufacturing
partner

Many of our customer relationships span years or decades. We invest in understanding each programme — its components, its tolerances, its change history — and carry that knowledge forward consistently. In aerospace, where institutional knowledge at your CEM is a genuine risk mitigant, that continuity has real value.

Full turnkey capability from prototype to production

From your first prototype builds during design validation, through pre-production and into sustained supply, Arkle can support every phase of the programme. Our high-mix production environment means we can run multiple programmes simultaneously without compromising quality or responsiveness on any of them.

Starting an Aerospace Programme with Arkle

We welcome enquiries from aerospace OEMs, Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers, system integrators and programme procurement teams across the UK. Whether you need to qualify a new CEM, transfer an existing production programme or find a reliable partner for a new product introduction, we are happy to review your requirements in detail.

We offer a no-obligation review of your BOM, design documentation and quality requirements, and can provide a full programme proposal including costing, lead times and the quality documentation package we will provide. NDA execution is available as a first step for programmes where confidentiality is required.

Speak to our team about your aerospace electronics manufacturing requirements.

Contact us | +44 (0)1438 721710 | info@arkle-electronics.co.uk