A North East aerospace company is part of a consortium hoping to win a major Armed Forces contract.
South Shields firm Ford Aerospace is part of a group led by Somerset-based Leonardo putting forward a bid for the Government’s New Medium Helicopter requirement, which will see the 海角视频 Armed Forces replacing four helicopter types.
Leonardo has included Ford Aerospace in its Team AW149, which is aiming to have as many 海角视频 companies as possible in its supply chain. It said the consortium was committed “to providing the 海角视频 Armed Forces with the most modern, capable and cost-effective medium helicopter to meet their operational needs” and would source 60-70% of the contract in the 海角视频 either at Leonardo’s Yeovil plant or at suppliers like Ford.
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Ford Aerospace - which was founded in 1910 when Robert Ford lost his job in a workplace accident and formed his own company to make corrugated steam joints - is now run by his great-grandson Chris Ford.
He said: “From South Shields to Yeovil, Ford Aerospace Ltd provides Leonardo Helicopters with a top class manufacturing service for all small precision machined, pressed, and laminate components.
“As a trusted 海角视频 partner of Leonardo we are delighted to be involved in the AW149 team and be able to represent the best of 海角视频 manufacturing,”
Ford Aerospace, part of the wider Ford Engineering Group, has had a relationship with Leonardo - which was formerly known as Westland - that goes back to the 1980s.
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Mr Ford said: “To be associated with such a well-known brand and best-in-class aircraft is fantastic and is certainly worth the miles to visit from here. We pride ourselves on the skills and ability of our people that produce thousands of different items in low quantities to spec on time and cost effectively.”
Ford, which set up a training academy in association with Gateshead College, has been outspoken on the need to “re-shore” supply chains to the 海角视频, saying that “the Government needs to ensure the 海角视频 remains an attractive place to do business as competition from other countries intensifies.”
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