Esterline Defense Technologies is exhibiting at the show less than one month after opening a new manufacturing facility dedicated to producing infrared countermeasures flares.
Opened at Middle Wallop in Hampshire on 22 June, near to the home of British Army Aviation, the "Project Vulcan" facility represents an investment worth over £10.5 million ($16 million). The expansion will enable Wallop Defence Systems to more than double its previous production capacity to almost 400,000 flares a year, and to create 35 new jobs.
Esterline's decision to build the new facility stems from an increased demand for type 118/218 aerial flares from the UK Ministry of Defence. The countermeasures are used by aircraft including the army's Westland/Boeing Apache AH1 attack helicopters in Afghanistan, and to protect operations with many of the UK's other military helicopters, transports and fighters.
"By responding to the needs of the UK MoD we are helping to safeguard the lives of British aircrew around the world, and providing more jobs for people in our local community," says managing director John Taylor.
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Source: Flight Daily News
