Establishing Operations
Engineering Capability. Built Around Industry Needs.
VAE is developing demand-led composites manufacturing and engineering capability, with Ventspils, Latvia as its planned operational location.
Early engagement with procurement and engineering teams is shaping build-to-print manufacturing processes, equipment investment and workforce development for European aerospace, defence, marine, energy and industrial supply chains.
Illustrative carbon-fibre imagery. Not a VAE facility, product or operational process.
Planned manufacturing capability
A focused composites capability, shaped by customer requirements and European supply-chain demand rather than equipment purchased in advance of need.
Build-to-print manufacturing capability is being developed to serve European aerospace, defence, marine, energy and industrial supply chains, with process selection, equipment investment and implementation following verified customer demand, technical feasibility and the controls each application requires.
Composite processing
Planned prepreg layup, vacuum bagging and controlled curing, with process definitions and material handling appropriate to the intended application.
Components & structures
Planned bonded structures and build-to-print composite components, subject to drawing review, inspection requirements and process validation.
Tooling & engineering
Planned tooling and manufacturing engineering to support producibility, process definition and repeatable manufacture.
Illustrative composite layup and bagging materials. Not VAE equipment or facilities.
Longer-term ambition: MRO
Maintenance, repair and overhaul is a longer-term ambition, separate from near-term manufacturing objectives. Its development would require a defined scope, suitable competence and any applicable approvals.
Pre-operational: VAE is establishing composites manufacturing capability in Ventspils, Latvia, and does not yet accept or fulfil production contracts.
Quality begins before production.
The intended foundation: competent operators, traceable work and reliable processes.
These principles anchor a quality management system in development, built around material and batch traceability, controlled work instructions and verifiable process records.
Illustrative inspection workspace. Not a VAE facility or evidence of current inspection capability.
Prevention & competency
Foreign object debris and damage (FOD) prevention, disciplined housekeeping and material handling will inform process design. Operator training, human factors awareness and competency assessment are intended prerequisites for assigned work.
Traceability & control
Planned controls include material and batch identification, controlled work instructions, process records and inspection criteria. Non-conformities should be identified, contained and investigated rather than passed downstream.
Improvement & resilience
Lean principles and Plan–Do–Check–Act (PDCA) will guide continuous improvement. Supplier risk, knowledge retention and continuity planning will form part of developing operational resilience.
Quality & accreditation roadmap
Future targets.
Dates are indicative planning windows, not commitments or evidence of progress. Scope and timing depend on verified demand, resources, implementation and applicable external assessment.
2026–27
Business & QMS foundations
Define the business scope, responsibilities and quality management system foundations. Establish the approach to document control, risk, training and supplier evaluation.
2027–28
ISO 9001 readiness
Target development and evaluation of the quality management system towards ISO 9001 readiness. Readiness is not certification.
2028–29
EN 9100/AS9100 development
Target aerospace-specific quality system development where supported by customer requirements and an appropriate manufacturing scope.
2029–31
Nadcap assessment
Consider readiness for relevant special-process assessment, subject to the processes established and customer requirements. No Nadcap accreditation is held or guaranteed.
Parallel supplier-readiness objectives
Future objectives include NCAGE registration, defence supplier readiness and support for National Stock Number (NSN) codification within the NATO Codification System, where applicable. Registration and codification do not constitute manufacturing accreditation or contract approval.
Help shape the capability you need.
Early manufacturing enquiries, future RFQs, supplier introductions and technical partnerships are welcome.
Share a non-confidential outline of your requirement to inform VAE’s development priorities and supply-chain planning.
Do not submit confidential or export-controlled technical data through public forms.