North European Decision in Favour of NH 90 Military Transport Helicopter is Further Strengthening EADS Defence Business
Amsterdam, 14 September 2001
EADS European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company welcomes the decision of the governments of Finland and Norway to purchase the European military transport helicopter NH 90.
The two Nordic countries will place 34 firm orders and 10 options for the NH 90. EADS is participating in the programme with 62.5 percent via its 100 percent subsidiary Eurocopter. The Swedish government should announce its decision in the coming days.
For Philippe Camus and Rainer Hertrich, the two CEOs of EADS European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company, this is yet again a proof of the Group's efficiency.
"With this success, the military helicopter order book of Eurocopter will reach a record high of nearly 500 aircraft", underlined Philippe Camus. "This is the proof that helicopters have become a major and undoubted component of the aeronautic activity of EADS."
"This new success is added to a long series of cooperations between EADS and the North European countries", said Rainer Hertrich. In June of this year EADS acquired a 26.8 percent stake in the Finnish aerospace and defence group Patria Industries Oyj. The decision in favour of NH 90 will further strengthen the integration of the Nordic aerospace industry in European structures. "Nordic companies can benefit a lot from linking up with a group which is No. 2 worldwide in Aerospace and we are looking forward to increasing our cooperation with North European partners".
With the selection of these helicopters, the success story of EADS in the international defence business continues. In August 2001, the Australian government decided in favour of Eurocopter's Tiger combat helicopter. EADS CASA has also received an order for four Maritime Patrol Aircraft by the United Arab Emirates and the Polish Air Force will purchase eight C-295 transport aircraft. Estonia will implement an EADS-made coastal surveillance radar to secure its maritime borders.
"Now we are looking forward to signing industrial contracts for two hundred A400M military transport aircraft and Meteor missiles with major European customers", said Camus and Hertrich.
Contact for Communications:
| Rainer Ohler | Tel. +49 89 607 34 235 |
| Miguel Sanchez | Tel. +34 91 585 77 |
| Roland Sanguinetti | Tel. +33 1 42 24 24 26 |
