13 Jun 2005
BAE Systems Regional Aircraft has won significant new design engineering work on both commercial and military aircraft from third party companies. This new work on the Airbus A380, Airbus A400M and the Lockheed Martin F-35, together with growing involvement in Unmanned Air Vehicles adds to the existing substantial workload on Nimrod MRA4.
The new design work won by Regional Aircraft includes:
- Airbus – Regional Aircraft is providing specialist engineering expertise to Airbus UK on a range of aircraft including the A380, A400M and also continuing work on the A320 family and A340. This specialist work includes systems engineering and safety engineering, fuel systems, fuel systems design analysis, certification and compliance reports. Regional Aircraft’s comprehensive large transport aircraft design expertise is also being used on the development of the A400M cabin interior and for certification work;
- Lockheed Martin F-35 (JSF) – working under contract to BAE Systems Air Systems, Regional Aircraft is involved in detailed design of the composite structure. A design team is currently based at Samlesbury, Lancashire, for this purpose and a satellite design office is to be established at Regional Aircraft’s Woodford facility, near Manchester.
- Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs) – Regional Aircraft’s certification experience and approvals, its whole aircraft design capability and its ability to integrate equipment and sensors, is proving to be of interest to companies and consortia that are developing UAVs and Regional Aircraft is involved in a number of programmes.
Regional Aircraft’s continuing and substantial design engineering work on the Nimrod MRA4 covers the airframe design and systems engineering, together with flight test support for the two development aircraft including ground vibration test to provide flutter clearance.
In a further development, Regional Aircraft is in the process of taking on a number of design personnel from the BAE Systems Naval Ships business in Glasgow to help with its work. There is currently a lack of design and engineering work in the naval sector, pending progress on a number of future programmes, in particular the future aircraft carriers. However, much of the design expertise is transferable into the military and commercial air sectors and this secondment will help keep core skills in place for when new design work is won by Naval Ships.
In total, third party engineering business is worth 20 million a year to Regional Aircraft and the company is seeking further opportunities to increase the portfolio and value of third party business.
About BAE SYSTEMS
BAE Systems is an international company engaged in the development, delivery and support of advanced defence and aerospace systems in the air, on land, at sea and in space. The company designs, manufactures and supports military aircraft, surface ships, submarines, fighting vehicles, radar, avionics, communications, electronics and guided weapon systems. It is a pioneer in technology with a heritage stretching back hundreds of years. It is at the forefront of innovation, working to develop the next generation of intelligent defence systems.
BAE Systems has major operations across five continents and customers in some 130 countries. The company has more than 90,000 people and generates annual sales of over 13 billion through its wholly-owned and joint venture operations.
For further information, please contact:
David Dorman, BAE Systems
Tel: +44 (0) 1582 488336 Fax: +44 (0) 1582 488447
ddaviddorman@aol.com
www.regional-services.com
