EADS Comments C-295 Delivery to Portugal

EADS Comments C-295 Delivery to Portugal

(NSI News Source Info) MADRID - November 20, 2008: EADS Military Transport Aircraft has delivered today the first of twelve (12) military transport aircraft C-295 to Jorge Rolo, Chairman of DEFAERLOC (State owned company in charge of procuring defence material for Portugal) ordered by the Portuguese Air Force in February 2006. The Portuguese Defence Minister, Nuno Severiano Teixeira, and the Spanish Defence Minister, Carme Chacón, attended the ceremony.

Seven of the aircraft will have military transport configuration and five will be equipped for maritime surveillance missions (VIMAR version) with FITS, a mission system entirely developed by EADS CASA. The VIMAR aircraft can be rapidly adapted to the transport configuration.

These twelve aircraft will replace the fleet of Aviocar C-212, also supplied by former CASA, which have been operating satisfactorily since the 1970’s.

Starting today, one aircraft will be delivered every one and a half month approximately, until the total of 12 units is reached. The transport aircraft will be supplied first and the maritime surveillance aircraft thereafter.

EADS MTAD will also provide “Full In-Service Support” for these aircraft, for a minimum period of 5 years.

Likewise, an industrial cooperation agreement between EADS MTAD and the CPC (Permanent Counterparties Committee) was signed in February 2006, by means of which EADS MTAD will provide support to Portugal's aeronautical industrial development.

EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2007, EADS generated revenues of EUR 39.1 billion and employed a workforce of about 116,000. The Group includes the aircraft manufacturer Airbus, the world's largest helicopter supplier Eurocopter and EADS Astrium, the European leader in space programmes from Ariane to Galileo. Its Defence & Security Division is a provider of comprehensive systems solutions and makes EADS the major partner in the Eurofighter consortium as well as a stakeholder in the missile systems provider MBDA. EADS also develops the A400M through its Military Transport Aircraft Division.