UK Company Develops Self-healing and Transformer-like Planes

A British company is developing self-healing fighter jets, planes that split into multiple jets in the air when approaching the war zone, and even 3D printers to create drones while in the middle of a mission.

Experts say this technology is not unrealistic.

The British defense business BAE Systems are now working with the UK government and aviation authorities from top universities to put many game-changing technologies into reality.

For example, in a project known as "Survivor," researchers are investigating a light-weight adhesive fluid, which can be installed inside an aircraft to permit jets to heal themselves mid-flight in just minutes.

Fu Qianshao, an air-defense expert, says this technology requires special light-weight pipes to deliver the adhesive fluid.

"If the plane needs to carry the adhesive fluid while it's flying, they may result in a passive load. Unless these fluids are highly efficient, and the carbon pipes are very light, either the Nano Meter pipes or other materials, they just need to be light enough and highly efficient. But this is achievable."

BAE engineers also showed off a so-called "Transformer" aircraft.

It's an extended range airplane that can split into a number of smaller jets mid-air for missions including offensive strikes, supply drops, or surveillance.

After completing their missions the jets would then join back into one aircraft and return to base.

Fu Qianshao says this is possible and not hard to realize.

"The so called combination of the planes could actually involve attaching the wings together. This would expand the plane's wing span. This can effectively enlarge the plan's flying range and increase flying time."

According to a BAE Systems spokesman, this advanced use of materials would create a highly survivable jet capable of entering even the most dangerous of scenarios to complete vital missions.

It is unclear if any of these ideas will develop beyond the prototype stage any time soon.

But Fu Qianshao says going "smart" is the future of aviation technology.

"Future planes may work as networks. They would be integrated with mini computers and each system would have its own computer. If any individual system is damaged or loses its function, the information and resources in the network could maintain the function of the plane, allowing it to carry on its mission."

The BAE team is working with the UK's leading aviation thinkers from universities, government and a range of companies, trying to outline how aircraft engineering might evolve.