It is surprising that BAE's Salmesbury plant ("BAE reviews aerostructures division", Flight International, 22-28 October) seems to be included in the review considering its heavy involvement in the Eurofighter and the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, for which it received Lockheed Martin's Aerostar Award in June 2001. In that respect, a sell-off would be a huge mistake.
Nevertheless, I have more sympathy with BAE when it complains about the UK government's procurement policy. Before accepting bidders from overseas, it would be logical that the government demand some kind of reciprocity for UK firms.
Such a move would not affect US companies, as reciprocity and joint projects between the two countries exist, but companies from Europe would be affected. In any case BAE's chairman is right when he points out that such a situation would be unthinkable in France.
Larédo Laurent Toulouse, France
Source: Flight International
