RUAG and EADS Defence & Security will enhance their strategic, industrial and technology cooperation
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Berlin (ots)
New agreement enables Swiss participation in the Eurofighter programme including Development, Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul and Production
Additional opportunities in several industrial and technology projects of EADS and the Eurofighter Consortium
RUAG and EADS Defence & Security (DS) will intensify their strategic, industrial and technology cooperation in order to develop a long-lasting and sustainable partnership. This is the strategic goal of an agreement signed by Dr. Lukas Braunschweiler, CEO RUAG Holding Ltd and by Bernhard Gerwert, CEO of Military Air Systems, an integrated Business Unit of EADS Defence & Security, during the Berlin Air Show (ILA 2010). The agreement includes cooperation programmes between RUAG, its suppliers and DS in a number of different industrial fields with a potential of more than one billion CHF.
Bernhard Gerwert, CEO of Military Air Systems, stated: "This agreement will open the door for a widespread partnership between RUAG and EADS, its Divisions, the Eurofighter and Eurojet partner companies and its suppliers. We are pleased to enter into a new era of cooperation with this first-class aerospace and defence group in Switzerland."
Dr. Lukas Braunschweiler, CEO RUAG Holding Ltd., said: "We are honored that EADS Defence & Security wants to intensify the cooperation with us. Our industrial partnership with EADS refers today to various fields of aerospace and defence business. Together we are participating in different missions in space and aviation. We are more than confident to be a reliable technology partner."
RUAG will be able to participate in international cooperation programmes such as Europe's leading fighter combat aircraft programme, the Eurofighter, including Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO), development, engineering and production. As part of the strategic cooperation this may be not limited to Swiss aircraft but potentially for the worldwide Eurofighter fleet on specific systems.
Eurofighter, which is the most modern combat aircraft available on
the world market, is currently offered to the Swiss Air Force for a
partial replacement of the F-5E/F Tiger II aircraft ("TTE programme")
fleet. This is an excellent basis to create additional opportunities
for further industrial cooperation including up to 200 small and
medium-sized companies (SMEs) in Switzerland. The type decision,
based on the three aircraft offered, will be made by the Swiss
Government.Based on the current collaboration projects with EADS like the Airbus wing tip production, Eurocopter EC635 final assembly line, participation in space missions or the Agile Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) programme, RUAG will have the opportunity to participate in additional wide-ranging industrial and technology co operations: The unique potential consists of e.g. Airbus programmes, A400M MRO, Carbon Composite Technology, UAV Systems, Border Security Systems or other Fighter Aircraft MRO.
About RUAG
RUAG is an international technology group operating in the fields of aerospace and defence. The group's holding company is located in Berne (Switzerland). RUAG's production sites are located in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Sweden and the USA. The company employs a staff of 7,500 worldwide: 4,000 of them in Switzerland. www.ruag.com
About EADS
EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2009, the Group - comprising Airbus, Eurocopter, EADS Astrium and EADS Defence & Security - generated revenues of 42.8 billion EUR and employed a workforce of more than 119,000. Switzerland is one of the 10 most important partner countries for EADS which cooperates already with more than 400 Swiss suppliers. www.eads.com
Contact:
RUAG Holding Ltd
Christiane Schneider
Media Relations
Mobile: +41/79/260'59'15
E-Mail: christiane.schneider@ruag.com
EADS Defence & Security
Claas Belling
Media Relations
Tel.: +49/8459/81-80482
E-Mail: claas.belling@eads.com