Denel tendering for more Airbus deals

Johannesburg - Denel, the State owned arms company, was tendering for further "build-to-print" work packages for Airbus Military's A400M transport aircraft, Public Enterprises Minister Alec Erwin said on Tuesday.

Replying in Parliament to the Democratic Alliance KJ Minnie, Erwin said that Denel Aviation was "in the process of concluding a design and build package for the vertical tail plan ribs and wing-to-fuselage fairings".

Erwin said in April this year that the production of the A400M components by Denel and Aerosud would commence soon. His comments follow the government's announcement of a R6.4 billion deal to buy eight military transport aircraft from Airbus.

However, Erwin explained that the new tendering was for Mezzanine floor machine components and crown fitting wing components.

Asked whether the beleaguered arms company had concluded any agreements with Airbus for partnership in the design and manufacture of imported sub-systems for the A350 Airliner, Erwin said Denel had not yet concluded any agreements on this front but negotiations "are currently ongoing".

Asked also whether it had concluded any contracts for the Airbus A380, he also said that they had not. However, he said: "Denel will look at increasing its focus from low-volume military production to international manufacturing partnerships in high-volume commercial aircraft production, and the A380 Airbus Airliner presents such opportunities."

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