Since 1997, the cooperation with Airbus has become a cornerstone in Saab Aerostructures operations. With the contract signing on 29 November, where Saab and Airbus signed an agreement regarding development and production of the crew entrance door for the A400M military cargo transport aircraft, Saab Aerostructures position as a supplier to Airbus is further strengthened.
The agreement to develop and produce the crew entrance door for the A400M will be worth up to SEK 400 million.
“Saab Aerostructures has enjoyed good cooperation with Airbus for many years, and that they have chosen us as a supplier in this project shows that they have great confidence in us” says Pontus Kallén, General Manager of Saab Aerostructures.
Image: The following people were present during the contract signing: (Upper row from left) Benoit Dotte, Magnus Falk, Guillaume Vuillermoz and Phillipe Brasdu (Bottom row from left) Mats Palmberg, Pontus Kallén, Alain Flourens and Eric Gillard.
Now that the agreement is signed, we now have up to ten people on site in Toulouse in the Airbus development organization for the A400M. As the definition matures, more and more of the operations will be performed at Saab Aerostructures factory in Linköping.
“It feels like an exciting challenge to participate with responsibility for both development and production of an Airbus project. That we have been given responsibility for the doors shows the broadness we possess within Saab Aerostructures, a broadness that in the long run helps all of Saab AB.” says Mats Palmberg, VP, Marketing and Sales at Saab Aerostructures.
A400M is a European military cargo transport aircraft programme. To date 180 aircraft have been ordered by seven European nations. The crew entrance door is 1.9 meters tall and 0.9 meters wide. The first units will be delivered to Airbus during 2006.