GKN to supply refuelling equipment for Airbus A400M
GKN Aerospace has won a £6million contract from Cobham Mission Equipment to design, develop and manufacture a lightweight air to air refuelling pylon for the wing dispense equipment on the Airbus'A400M military airlifter.
The pylon design will be manufactured using a combination of composite and metallic components to achieve specified weight and performance targets.
First deliveries of development units for vibration testing are expected to take place in February 2012, with production due to begin in 2013 and continuing though to 2020.
Jeff Armitage, vice president at GKN said: "This contract represents the successful development of our existing wing structures and fuel delivery systems businesses.
"It takes us into an important new customer relationship with Cobham, and into a market where our expertise in complex composite, metallic and hybrid wing structures can bring real operational advantage."
GKN previously won a contract with Cobham to produce the world's first all composite wing spar for a large aircraft. This structure was manufactured for the A400M using a number of state of the art processes, including advanced automated tape laying techniques.
The aircraft's engine inlet and wing trailing edge detail are also supplied by the company.
