Malaysia Joins A400 Program

Released on Thursday, December 08, 2005

Malaysia's joining the A400M program is a further boost for the global industrial development of EADS as well as for the Malaysian Industry. On Thursday, the Malaysian government signed a contract at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition LIMA '05 for the purchase of four A400M military airlifters. In April 2005, South Africa also joined the European transport aircraft program.

In the framework of this contract, Malaysian industry will receive high-technology work packages worth initially 1 billion Ringgits, (about 200 million Euros / $230+ million) for the design and manufacture of A400M airframe components to be delivered worldwide.

Through its divisions and joint ventures, EADS has already developed long standing smart partnerships with the Malaysian industry. Airbus, for example, has established a continuous and successful cooperation with Composites Technology Research Malaysia (CTRM) in the field of composite materials, starting with the manufacturing of fixed trailing edge for the A300 passenger jet followed by A320 leading and trailing edge lower panels. Meanwhile CTRM is designing and building the new A380 fixed leading edge lower panels.

Eurocopter, the world's leading helicopter manufacturer, opened a regional industrial and maintenance centre in Malaysia in 2004, Eurocopter Malaysia. This Centre has established fruitful industrial partnerships with more than 15 Malaysian companies and small and medium enterprises and has launched an ambitious training program with the Malaysian Institute of Aviation Technology aiming to train 100 students over the next four years. Eurocopter is a 100 percent subsidiary of EADS.

EADS has also developed cooperation in the field of Satellite Ground Receiving Stations with Technology Park Malaysia (TPM) and in the field of Secure Network and defense products.