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First EADS CASA aircraft for the U.S. Coast Guard rolls out

Integrated Coast Guard System (ICGS) and EADS CASA, partners in the Deepwater Program, celebrate the roll-out of the first maritime patrol aircraft HC-235A for the U.S. Coast Guard.

Seville, 23 March 2006

The roll-out of the first aircraft HC-235A for the U.S. Coast Guard’s Integrated Deepwater System (IDS) Program took place today at EADS CASA’s San Pablo facility in Seville, Spain. The aircraft was unveiled at a ceremony attended by the U.S. ambassador to Spain, the vice commandant of the Coast Guard, and senior company executives representing EADS CASA, EADS North America, Lockheed Martin and ICGS, as well as various government officials from both countries. This ceremony marked a significant milestone in development and delivery of the new aircraft for the Coast Guard.

IDS is a program to modernize and replace the Coast Guard’s aging ships and aircraft, and improve command and control and logistics systems. It is the largest recapitalization effort in the history of the Coast Guard. When complete, the interoperable IDS system will include three classes of new cutters and their associated small boats, a new fixed-wing manned aircraft fleet, a combination of new and upgraded helicopters, and both cutter-based and land-based unmanned air vehicles (UAVs). All of these highly capable assets are linked with Command, Control, Communications and Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) systems, and are supported by a new and far-reaching integrated logistics regime. IDS is essential to the support the Coast Guard's many missions, key among which is domestic Homeland Security.

The HC-235A has been selected to serve as the Maritime Patrol Aircraft platform for the U.S. Coast Guard. EADS CASA and Lockheed Martin signed on February 2004 in Madrid, a $87.4 million contract for two HC-235A Medium Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft. The delivery of the first aircraft is scheduled to take place before the end of 2006. One additional aircraft was ordered in November 2004.The potential value of the contract, with all options exercised, is approximately $300 million.

The size of the aircraft and range capabilities will be very supportive of the multiple missions required by the U.S. Coast Guard—from Homeland Security, to environmental protection, fisheries enforcement, drug and migrant interdiction, and search and rescue.

Francisco Fernandez Sáinz, Chairman and CEO of EADS CASA said: “The entire EADS CASA team is very satisfied celebrating with our partners of ICGS and the US Coast Guard on the roll-out of the first HC-235A aircraft as part of the Deepwater Program. An important milestone is being reached today”.

EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2005, EADS generated revenues of € 34,2 billion and employed a workforce of about 113,000. The EADS Group includes the aircraft manufacturer Airbus, the world's largest helicopter supplier Eurocopter and the joint venture MBDA, the international leader in missile systems. 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.

Media contact:
Eduardo Galicia
Communications
EADS CASA
Tel.: +34 91 585 77 89