GEC Applied Electronics Laboratories
Note: This is a sub-section of GEC
of Stanmore
1947 The Grove, a country house outside Stanmore, was sold at auction.
1950 Plans were drawn up for construction of new laboratories in the grounds of The Grove. Initial described as Airborne Radio Frequency development laboratories for the Ministry of Supply as an offshoot of the Wembley Research Laboratories.
1955 GEC asked Robert James Clayton to establish its new applied electronics laboratories at Stanmore to create a defence electronics capability, initially centred on developing missile guidance systems for the Royal Navy.
R&D projects initially included airborne radars (originally for Javelin and the Sea Vixen fighters) and radars for missile systems. Shortly after this, the GEC Stanmore site also developed various secret Early Warning systems for the V-bombers and subsequent RAF aircraft, becoming the UK’s leading supplier of Airborne Electronic Warfare systems.
The laboratories went through various changes of ownership as GEC was dispersed amongst different companies.
2004 BAE Systems moved the Stanmore and Milton Keynes business to a new site at Luton, creating a Centre of Excellence with specific expertise in Airborne Integrated Defence Aids Systems, ISTAR, and Operational Support.
2025 Leonardo employs around 1,000 people at the Luton site who are involved in the design and development of the company’s electronic warfare capability.
See Also
Sources of Information
- Biography of Robert James Clayton, ODNB
- [1]] Institution of Engineering and Technology