GKN Aerospace in Bristol is to build wing parts for a new business jet for French group Dassault Aviation – its first major contract win since it took over Airbus’s Filton manufacturing operations three years ago.
GKN will be responsible for the complete design, component manufacture and assembly of wing moveable surfaces for the next generation super mid-sized (SMS) business jet, which will enter in service in 2016.
The contract was announced this morning to coincide with the first day of the Paris Air Show – the world’s largest gathering of aerospace companies and their customers. A number of major announcements on new orders are expected this week from Airbus and other aerospace groups with interests in the Bristol area.
Phil Swash, president and CEO, Aerostructures – Europe at GKN Aerospace, said this morning: “This contract opens an important and promising new relationship between our company and Dassault Aviation, one of the premier aircraft design & manufacturing businesses in the world today.
“It is a clear indication of the global competitiveness and depth of expertise of the GKN Aerospace team and, specifically, of our growing Filton-based wing structures activity. We would like to thank Dassault Aviation for their confidence in GKN Aerospace and look forward to growing this relationship in the coming years."
GKN, which employs around 1,500 in Filton, is investing heavily in the plant, which makes wing parts for most of Airbus’s commercial airliner range. It is also building a new manufacturing unit which will work on Airbus’s yet-to-fly A350 mid-range jetliner.
For latest news from the Paris Air Show read BRISTOL BUSINESS NEWS
