European aircraft manufacturer Airbus has awarded a contract to South African aeronautical engineering firm Aerosud to manufacture parts for its A400M military airplane
According to the South African News Agency, Airbus has contracts worth US$393.3mn in South Africa's aviation industry.
As per terms of the contract, Aerosud will develop the A400M’s cockpit, fusalage interior lining and wing tips.
The South African trade and industry minister, Rob Davies, said Aerosud’s contract with Airbus demonstrated the country’s capabilities in the aerospace manufacturing industry. “It is not a small achievement for a South African country to become a part of the global supply chain. Historically, successful military transport aircraft programmes have run for over 50 years,” said Davies.
South Africa’s Aerospace Industry Support Initiative (AISI) and National Aerospace Centre (NAC) programmes have helped garner investments worth US$2.65mn in the industry last year and have supported 169 organisations, the department of trade and industry (DTI) reported.
Airbus international cooperation vice president Simon Ward said, “I am happy to re-affirm our commitment to South Africa and its aerospace industry. Today, the number of Airbus parts that are manufactured here for our programmes are a key contributor to the South Africa’s industry.”
