28th Feb 2005 12:20
Cobham PLC28 February 2005 28 February 2005 FUTURE STRATEGIC TANKER AIRCRAFT PREFERRED BIDDER STATUS ACHIEVED The UK MoD confirmed today that AirTanker has now been formally selected as thePreferred Bidder for a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) to meet the FSTArequirement for the Royal Air Force (RAF). The PFI will include anestablishment phase during which the aircraft and main operating base facilitieswill be developed. The entire period of the contract will be up to 27 years withoptions to extend the service. Cobham is a 20% equity holder in AirTanker Ltd, and is a shareholder inAirTanker Services Ltd, the company which will operate and maintain the fleetfor the RAF. Cobham is providing the air refuelling equipment for the A330-200Multi Role Tanker Transport chosen for this programme. Conversion of theairframes to the tanker role will be carried out at Cobham's facility atBournemouth International Airport and the company is expected to be involved inproviding through life support of the aircraft and refuelling equipment. Cobhamalready supplies antennas, cockpit control units, oxygen and fuel system partsand composite components for all Airbus A330 aircraft. At Wimborne employment generated will be more than 225 man years for 3 years andthe integrated programme team will peak at more than 130 people. (More than 10%of this effort will be achieved through new job creation). The conversion andintegration programme will see the creation of more than 100 jobs at Bournemouth. Chelton's involvement will be within existing capacity. It is estimated that over the initial establishment phase of the programme thevalue of sub-contracts to Cobham will be approximately £110m. Allan Cook, Chief Executive, Cobham plc commented: We are delighted that AirTanker has been selected as preferred bidder - the nextstep in this hugely important programme. It reinforces Cobham's pedigree andleadership in air refuelling, following as it does, recent German, Canadian andAustralian contracts. This decision for AirTanker clearly demonstrates Cobham'sability to participate in and add value to the winning consortia. NOTES TO EDITOR1. Cobham is a leading supplier of specialised equipment for the aerospace,defence, homeland security, communications and search and rescue markets. Italso operates, modifies and maintains aircraft for military training, specialmission operations and outsourced freight and passenger services. FlightRefuelling Ltd is a Cobham Aerospace Systems Group company, FR Aviation is aCobham Flight Operations and Services company and Chelton is Cobham's AvionicsGroup. 2. Cobham will supply the centre line and wing mounted flight refuelling hoseand drogue equipment for the A330-200 aircraft together with composite strutsfor the main cabin floor structure, composite transmission shafts, fuel systempumps and pipe work, fuel, hydraulic and air valves, oxygen emergency equipment,clocks, radio management and intercom systems, antennas for both military,normal air traffic and civil aviation requirements, and static dischargers. ENQUIRIES Cobham plcAllan CookChief Executive Telephone +44 (0) 1202 882 020 Warren TuckerGroup Financial Director Telephone +44 (0) 1202 882 020 College HillMatthew Smallwood Telephone +44 (0) 207 457 2020 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
Cobham