Research worth £100m into the next generation of aircraft wings could secure the future of the Airbus plant in Flintshire, it's understood.
£103m pounds of research into the next generation of aircraft wings should secure the future of the Airbus plant in Flintshire, it is 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 is being made to develop new lightweight composite wings for the aircraft of the future, which would be made at the site in Broughton.
The plant, which employs more than 7,000 people, is recognised as a centre of excellence for wing manufacture.
The assembly government said it is investing some money into the research programme to ensure production of aircraft wings remains in north Wales.
It is in pole position for the new composite wing programme.
The plant employs over 7,000 people.
The plant has already won the contract to produce composite wings for the new A350 aircraft. It also makes wings for the A380 superjumbo.
There had been concerns that unless the research and design into new lightweight composite aircraft wings stayed in the UK, future production could be moved from Flintshire to factories on the continent.
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 overall cost of £103m of research investment, which the assembly government has contributed £7.5m to, was hailed by Ieuan Wyn Jones, the Minister for the Economy and Transport, as ensuring Broughton remains a world leader
The research will develop a new generation of wings which will be made of lightweight materials to help cut fuel costs and bring economic benefits.
Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones said: "This vital research and technology programme will give the world-class Broughton plant the skills and knowledge to remain at the forefront of aircraft wing design and manufacture, and will put it in a strong position to win key contracts in the future."
Tom Williams, Executive Vice President of Airbus said the investment was "key" to the firm's competitiveness.
The Airbus plant in Broughton, which is recognised as a centre of excellence for wing manufacturing, has already won the contract to produce composite wings for the new A350 aircraft.
It also makes wings for the A380 superjumbo.
In March, it 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 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.
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.
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.
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