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Aero firm's £100m research boost | Aero firm's £100m research boost |
(30 minutes later) | |
Research worth £100m into the next generation of aircraft wings could secure the future of the Airbus plant in Flintshire, it's understood. | |
The investment, which will be confirmed later, is being made to develop new lightweight composite wings for the aircraft of the future. | The investment, which will be confirmed later, is being made to develop new lightweight composite wings for the aircraft of the future. |
The plant, which employs more than 7,000 people, is recognised as a centre of excellence for wing manufacture. | The plant, which employs more than 7,000 people, is recognised as a centre of excellence for wing manufacture. |
It is in pole position for the new composite wing programme. | |
The plant has already won the contract to produce composite wings for the new A350 aircraft. It also makes wings for the A380 superjumbo. | The plant has already won the contract to produce composite wings for the new A350 aircraft. It also makes wings for the A380 superjumbo. |
In March, the Broughton plant said it would probably have to employ more people after the company struck a £20bn contract with the US air force. | |
The next generation composite wing programme is a new multimillion-pound collaborative research effort. | The next generation composite wing programme is a new multimillion-pound collaborative research effort. |
It brings together 18 UK industrial partners, development agencies and the Welsh Assembly Government. | It brings together 18 UK industrial partners, development agencies and the Welsh Assembly Government. |
The research will develop technologies to enable the design, manufacture and testing of lightweight aircraft of the future, bringing environmental and economic benefits. | The research will develop technologies to enable the design, manufacture and testing of lightweight aircraft of the future, bringing environmental and economic benefits. |
Details will be unveiled by ministers and Airbus UK in London later. | Details will be unveiled by ministers and Airbus UK in London later. |
Aerospace analyst Rob Coppinger, from Flight Global, said the announcement was key to the future of the Broughton plant. | Aerospace analyst Rob Coppinger, from Flight Global, said the announcement was key to the future of the Broughton plant. |
He said the UK Government had little choice but to approve the scheme, because of the serious danger that wing manufacture might not remain in the UK. | He said the UK Government had little choice but to approve the scheme, because of the serious danger that wing manufacture might not remain in the UK. |