PARIS, June 20 (UPI) -- South Africa's Denel Aerostructures will produce structural components for Airbus Military's new A400M transport aircraft.
A contract for the work was signed with Airbus Military of Spain at the Paris Air Show and is the third contract the company has received for work on the plane.
"Our success in establishing and maintaining partnerships like the one with Airbus Military is one of the pillars of our growth strategy, and it will make Denel profitable on a sustainable basis, improve our financial performance while also contributing to our national socio-economic imperatives," said Denel's Group Chief Executive Officer Riaz Saloojee.
"The contract strengthens Denel's position in South Africa's aerospace industry and reconfirms the company as a strategic national asset, its contribution to skills development and advanced manufacturing, as well as its potential to generate export revenue for the country."
DAe plans to make the ribs, spars and skeletal support structure for the A400M's vertical tail plane.
The value of the contract and its time period were not disclosed.
Denel Aerostructures said it has already begun preparations for production of the components.
"Denel, with its diverse set of expertise, capabilities and capacities, is central to Airbus Military's ambition to develop an expanded and multi-faceted partnership with South Africa's high-tech aerospace and defense industry, tied to South Africa's military aircraft requirements and acquisitions," Airbus Military Chief Executive Officer Domingo Urena said.
Under earlier awards, Denel is producing wing-to-fuselage fairing for the aircraft and the fuselage top shells.
