Airbus Signs Supplier Contract With Sokol Aircraft Production Plant
Toulouse, 19 December 2003
Airbus has signed a contract with the Russian aircraft manufacturer Sokol Aircraft Production Plant, where Kaskol Group is the major shareholder, and based in Nizhny Novgorod, for the production of aircraft components, making Sokol a supplier for the Western European aircraft manufacturer. This contract also marks the continuous implementation of the extensive co-operation programme between Airbus and the Russian aviation industry as defined in the agreement between EADS and Rosaviakosmos, signed in July 2001.
The contract for the supply of aircraft components was signed by Airbus and Sokol in the presence of Russian Deputy Prime Minister Boris Alyoshin, Airbus Chief Operating Officer Dr. Gustav Humbert, Kaskol Group President Sergei Nedoroslev and Irkut Corporation President Alexei Fedorov. The ceremony was also attended by representatives of Russian Aerospace Agency Rosaviakosmos and numerous guests.
The contract covers production of floor grids for the fuselage section 13/14 of the Airbus A320 Family, including the A318, A319, A320 and A321 aircraft types. These components will be machined at the Irkutsk-based plant of the Irkut Corporation and then assembled at the Sokol plant in Nizhny Novgorod. The first supplies of these components to the Airbus site in Meaulte, France, are scheduled for the second half of 2004.
This contract is the first milestone for Airbus manufacturing in Russia, which is targeted to increase progressively to reach a volume of up to $40 million annually production work for Airbus in the forthcoming years. As a next step in this programme, Airbus will invite for bids for subcontracting work in the annual magnitude of ten million US-Dollars to the Russian aviation industry at the beginning of 2004.
Gustav Humbert said: “We are delighted that just in half a year after the formal opening of the ECAR Engineering Centre in Moscow, contributing to Airbus design work, we are celebrating another important milestone in the long-standing relationship between the Russian aviation sector and Airbus as well as its major shareholder EADS.” He added: “Despite the challenging times for the world aviation industry, Airbus remains fully committed to its industrial co-operation programme in Russia. We believe that this contract paves the way for the Russian industry to participate in all major Airbus programmes”.
Over the years, Airbus has also established a fruitful co-operation with the Russian aviation industry in research and technologies, engineering, certification, material procurement and training of Russian aviation specialists. ECAR, which is established jointly by Airbus and Kaskol and which is the first engineering facility established by Airbus in Europe outside its home countries, currently employs some 50 Russian engineers and will increase engineering staff up to 100 engineers by the end of 2004. ECAR already performs extensive work in disciplines such as fuselage structure, stress and installation system.
In addition, VSMPO has become a major titanium supplier to Airbus for both flat and round rolled products, now supplying over 55 per cent of all Airbus’ titanium. Russian Aluminium, which has been identified as a major potential supplier of aluminium, is currently undergoing a comprehensive qualification process.
Beyond that, in the field of research and technology, some 600 Russian scientists, engineers and workers have been involved in more than 60 Airbus-related projects.
A leading aircraft manufacturer with the most modern and comprehensive Western product line, and a total order book for some 4,900 aircraft, Airbus is a global company with design and manufacturing facilities in France, Germany, the UK and Spain, as well as subsidiaries in the U.S., China and Japan. In Moscow, it has a regional office, as well as technical representation providing on-the-spot airline support.
