EADS PRIMED WITH €9BN WARCHEST
EADS chief executive Louis Gallois said the European aerospace giant is in talks with a few companies in defense, services and security for potential deals and could comfortably make an acquisition of around €1 billion ($1.3 billion). Speaking at the Reuters Aerospace and Defense Summit in Washington DC, Gallois said EADS wants to increase its non-commercial profile to better balance its dominant Airbus business and expand in the USA: "Too much of our footprint is in Europe."
PRAETORIAN TO GUARD TRANCHE 3A TYPHOONS
Selex Galileo has received a contract worth roughly £400 million ($615 million) to provide defensive aids subsystem equipment for 112 Tranche 3A Eurofighter Typhoons for Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK. Selex will produce the Praetorian self-protection suite with EuroDASS consortium partners EADS, Elettronica and Indra Sistemas, with deliveries to start in mid-2012.
THAI A340 LANDS SAFELY AFTER BOMB THREAT
US authorities have been screening baggage, passengers, crew and the aircraft after a Thai Airways International Airbus A340-500 landed at Los Angeles International airport following a bomb threat on a flight from Bangkok. During the journey, a passenger found a bomb threat note in the lavatory and alerted the cabin crew. There were 171 passengers and 18 crew members on board.
BAE MOVES FOR OASYS TECHNOLOGY
BAE Systems is to boost its sensor portfolio in the USA through the acquisition of Oasys Technology for undisclosed terms The US Navy last February gave Oasys a $10.6 million contract to develop a multi-spectral sensor suite for unmanned air vehicles.
WILLIS TO FIRM SUPERJET DEAL BY NOVEMBER
US-based Willis Lease Finance could firm its agreement to buy six Sukhoi Superjet 100s with four options by around November this year. Chief executive Charles Willis says: "Success of this aircraft will rise or fall on support and [marketing firm Superjet International] is aware of that."
DUBLIN AEROSPACE WINS XL'S HEAVY 737 WORK
Charter carrier XL Airways' German division has selected newly established Dublin Aerospace to conduct base maintenance on its four Boeing 737-800s over the winter 2010-11 season. Dublin Aerospace has three hangars at Dublin airport.
INDIA EYES HIGH-ALTITUDE AIRSHIP
India's science and technology department has proposed development of an unmanned high-altitude surveillance airship. The airship, powered by solar panels with regenerative cells for night-time operation, could also be used for disaster management. The science and technology department estimates that 15-20 airships could monitor the entire Indian subcontinent.
HONEYWELL ADDS TO C919 PACKAGE
Comac has chosen Honeywell's Laseref VI inertial reference and air data systems for its new C919 mainline airliner, scheduled for first flight in 2014 and service entry in 2016. The Chinese company has already selected Honeywell's auxiliary power unit, flight controls and wheels and brakes.
Source: Flight International
