Aero firm's £103m research boost

Airbus manufactures wings for its superjumbo at Broughton

£103m pounds of research into the next generation of aircraft wings should secure the future of the Airbus plant in Flintshire, it is understood.

The investment is being made to develop new lightweight composite wings for the aircraft of the future, which would be made at the site in Broughton.

The assembly government said it is investing some money into the research programme to ensure production of aircraft wings remains in north Wales.

The plant employs over 7,000 people.

There had been concerns that unless the research and design into new lightweight composite aircraft wings stayed in the UK, future production could be moved from Flintshire to factories on the continent.

The overall cost of £103m of research investment, which the assembly government has contributed £7.5m to, was hailed by Ieuan Wyn Jones, the Minister for the Economy and Transport, as ensuring Broughton remains a world leader

The research will develop a new generation of wings which will be made of lightweight materials to help cut fuel costs and bring economic benefits.

Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones said: "This vital research and technology programme will give the world-class Broughton plant the skills and knowledge to remain at the forefront of aircraft wing design and manufacture, and will put it in a strong position to win key contracts in the future."

Tom Williams, Executive Vice President of Airbus said the investment was "key" to the firm's competitiveness.

The Airbus plant in Broughton, which is recognised as a centre of excellence for wing manufacturing, has already won the contract to produce composite wings for the new A350 aircraft.

It also makes wings for the A380 superjumbo.

In March, it said it would probably have to employ more people after the company struck a £20bn contract with the US air force.

The next generation composite wing programme is a new multimillion-pound collaborative research effort.

It brings together 18 UK industrial partners, development agencies and the assembly government.