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The Australian Ministry for Defence Approves the Acquisition of 12 MRH 90 Helicopters under the AIR 9000 Programme

Marignane, 31 August 2004

Eurocopter welcomes the Australian Ministry for Defence decision to acquire 12 NH 90 helicopters under the Air 9000 Programme in a configuration suited to the needs of the Australian Army. This Australian version of the NH90 is called MRH 90. The MRH 90 helicopters will be added to the helicopter troop-lift units of the Australian Army.

Eurocopter Group President Fabrice Brégier notes, "By selecting the Tiger, the Australian Government has once again expressed its confidence in Eurocopter. Thanks to the shared technology of the NH 90 and Tiger programs, Eurocopter will be able to establish a self-contained and permanent industrial pole of excellence dedicated to helicopters in Australia. With these two programs, the helicopter industry in Australia can face the future with confidence."

He added: “After the Oman Sultanate announcement in July 2004 to acquire 20 NH 90, Australia becomes the eleventh country to have chosen the NH 90, making this aircraft the reference in the medium-size twins class”.

Orders today represents 357 aircraft plus 86 options.

The NH 90 is a truly multi-role helicopter which carries more troops and more equipment, further and faster than helicopters of the same weight. It can be configured in more ways and is fully interoperable with NATO forces.

The helicopter's features include a composite airframe, fly-by-wire controls, and much lower operating and maintenance costs than the competitors.

Eurocopter is a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS. EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2003 EADS generated revenues of 30.1 billion euros and employed a workforce of more than 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 and is the prime contractor for the Ariane launcher. EADS is also developing the A400M military transport aircraft and is the largest industrial partner for the European satellite navigation system Galileo.

For further information please contact:
Jean Louis ESPES
Tel : + 33 (0)4 42 85 95 55
Fax : + 33 (0)4 42 85 95 64
Eurocopter
Aéroport International Marseille Provence
F-13725 Marignane Cedex
France

Christina GOTZHEIN
Tel : + 49 (0) 89 6000 64 88
Fax : + 49 (0) 89 6000 44 37
Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH
D-81663 München
Germany

Chantal LINARES
Tel : + 33 (0)4 42 85 60 51
Fax : + 33 (0)4 42 85 95 64
Eurocopter
Aéroport International Marseille Provence
F-13725 Marignane Cedex – France

Christoph MÜLLER
Tel : + 49 (0) 906 71 45 65
Fax : + 49 (0) 906 71 46 74
Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH
D-86607 Donauwörth
Germany