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EADS SELECTED TO SUPPLY AUSTRALIAN FORCES WITH A330 MULTI-ROLE TANKER TRANSPORT (MRTT)

* The Australian Defence Forces will be acquiring five A330 MRTTs.
* The A330 MRTT is derived from the Airbus A330, the leader in its commercial market segment.

Amsterdam, 16 April 2004

EADS, a global leader in aerospace and defense, was selected this Friday to supply through its Military Transport Aircraft Division (MTAD) a new multi-role tanker transport fleet for the Australian Defense Forces.

The Australian Defence Forces will be acquiring five A330 MRTTs – the world’s newest, most capable and flexible MRTT aircraft - to replace its ageing Boeing 707 tanker transporters. The A330 MRTT is derived from the Airbus A330, the leader in its commercial market segment. The A330 MRTT was chosen ahead of the competition. It will be equipped with flying boom air-to-air refuelling technology (ARBS) currently under development by EADS. Delivery of the first aircraft is scheduled for 2007.

Two different contracts for a total amount of around € 1.2 billion will now be finally negotiated between the parties. EADS CASA will be prime contractor for supplying the aircraft, and Qantas Defense Services will be prime contractor for the through life support for a period of 20 years. There will be other Australian-based major partners in the program.

“With our A330 MRTT we have succeeded twice after tough competition in only three months,” commented EADS CEOs Philippe Camus and Rainer Hertrich. “The decisions by the RAF in Britain and the Australian Defense Forces in favor of our proposal are a clear proof that the A330 MRTT is the ideal platform for next generation tanker aircraft with both a flying boom and hose and drogue air refueling technology.”

In January, the EADS led Air Tanker team was selected by the Royal Air Force and the British Government to take forward negotiations aimed at concluding a contract for the £ 13bn UK Ministry of Defense Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) program.

“We are very grateful and proud of the confidence the Australian Defense Forces and the Australian Government are investing in EADS,” Camus and Hertrich said. “We are fully committed to what we have promised: the best air-to-air refueling aircraft for the forces and jobs and investment for Australia.”

“We will deliver jobs and investment in the acquisition stage and in the through-life support of the aircraft,” said Francisco Fernández Sáinz, Head of the EADS Military Transport Aircraft Division and Chairman and CEO of EADS CASA. “The new jobs will be long-term and sustainable. They include design, engineering support, manufacturing, maintenance, repair, overhaul and training.”

For Fernández Sáinz, the strategic market success in Australia was only possible due to the outstanding performance of the A330 MRTT and the intensive cross Business Unit cooperation within EADS. “This is a success for the whole EADS group. The outstanding cooperation of EADS International, Airbus, EADS CASA and many other parties involved drove this success.”

EADS CASA has an exclusive partnership with Qantas Defence Services Pty Ltd to provide through-life support (TLS) for the aircraft. A number of other Australian-based companies are also involved in the programme.

Under the partnership agreements Qantas Defence Services will convert as a subcontractor of EADS CASA the second and remaining aircraft into MRTTs from basic commercial aircraft. Qantas Defense Services, as prime contractor, will provide the through-life support, as well as customising the training systems and developing and delivering training programs in Australia.

“The involvement of Qantas Defense Services offers substantial job opportunities and savings for the Australian Defence Force,” Fernández Sáinz said. “Qantas flies the civilian version of the A330-200, and is thus completely familiar with the aircraft, aircrew training and maintenance.”

EADS and its subsidiaries already have made a major investment in Australia.

EADS subsidiary Australian Aerospace has built a new facility at Brisbane Airport, which produces the Australian Tiger military helicopter and the EC120 light civilian helicopter. Australian Aerospace employs 250 people and plans to expand to 400 staff by the end of 2004. Australian Aerospace also provides through-life support for the RAAF Caribou and AP-3C Orions.

About EADS:

EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2003 EADS, generated revenues of € 30.1 billion and employed a workforce of about 109,000. The EADS Group includes the aircraft manufacturer Airbus, the world's largest helicopter supplier Eurocopter and the joint venture MBDA, the second largest missile producer in the global market. EADS is the major partner in the Eurofighter consortium, is the prime contractor for the Ariane launcher, develops the A400M military transport aircraft and is the largest industrial partner for the European satellite navigation system Galileo.

Diane Murphy
EADS North America
Tel.: +1 202 776-0988