ITALY'S leading aerospace and defence company, Finmeccanica, and its joint venture partner EADS have signed a 600 million dollar contract to supply 15 turbo-prop aircraft to the Indonesian passenger airline, Wings Air.
In a statement released recently, ATR, the partners' joint venture, is to deliver the aircraft with an option for 15 others to Wings Air, a subsidiary of Lion Air between 2009 and 2011. The European Aeronautic, Defence and Space Company is European group based in the Netherlands.
Finmeccanica is playing a prominent role in the Dubai Airshow which opened recently. The Italian aerospace giant is hoping to secure new deals in the Middle East and other parts of the world.
The company has just created an industrial partnership with the Abu Dhabi-based business development and investment firm, the Mubadala Development Company, to produce components for civil aircraft at a plant at Al Ain in the UAE.
The plant was opened in an official ceremony at the weekend. Under the arrangement, Alenia Aeronautica, a Finmeccanica subsidiary, will provide technology, technical assistance and training as well as manufacturing for the new composites plant.
The United Arab Emirates government also recently announced the acquisition of 48 M-346 advanced lead-in fighter trainer aircraft to be manufactured by Alenia Aermacchi, a Finmeccanica company.
The agreement includes the creation of a joint venture to establish a final assembly line for the M-346. It is the result of close collaboration between the Italian government and the defence industry, which have worked together to capitalise on Italian excellence in the aeronautics high-tech sector.
"The selection of the Alenia Aermacchi M-346 by the United Arab Emirates government represents a huge success for the Italian high-tech industry," Pier Francesco Guarguaglini, chairman and chief executive officer of Finmeccanica, said.
"It is an endorsement of considerable strategic value for Finmeccanica, as it confirms the supremacy of this advanced next-generation trainer aircraft at international level and paves the way for further successes in the global markets, where others important campaigns are already under way."
In a statement on its website, Finmeccanica said that the UAE also offered opportunities for Alenia Aeronautica's C-27J tactical transport aircraft, which is generating considerable interest throughout the Gulf region.
The aircraft's special features including a take-off and landing capability on short runways under 500 metres in length, made it particularly suitable for the region, the company said.
Alenia Aeronautica, the world leader in regional turboprop aircraft, also plans to promote the special versions of the ATR series: the ATR 42MP and ATR 72MP (for maritime patrol) and the ATR 72ASW (for anti-submarine warfare) during this week's international show.
The UAE is of strategic interest to Finmeccanica, and it opened an office in Abu Dhabi last year. Finmeccanica has had a presence in the UAE for years and has numerous partnerships with Emirate companies.
In 2005, in association with Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB), SELEX Sistemi Integrati set up the joint venture Abu Dhabi Systems Integration, ADSI, which is active in the defence and security sector. (antara/15012010)
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