OREANDA-NEWS. On 11 February 2008 was announced, that EADS, a world leader in aerospace, defence and related services, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Kazakh titanium supplier UKTMP and Aubert & Duval (A&D), a major supplier of metal-based aircraft components on Friday. The MoU covers the supply of titanium to Airbus and other Divisions of EADS. It is potentially worth in excess of one billion US dollars. The agreement was signed in Astana on the occasion of the offical visit of the French Prime Minister Franзois Fillon.

The supply partners are to set up a joint venture, UKAD, for the purposes of transforming the titanium ingots delivered by UKTMP and improving the vertical integration of the titanium supply chain to EADS and Airbus. This approach will contribute to securing stable prices and quantities from the raw material supply to the manufacture of the semi-finished or finished product.

Titanium is a light and very strong raw material used in the aerospace industry. On aircraft, it is used in particular for landing gear systems, pylons and structural parts of the fuselage and wings.

The MoU is part of EADS’ and Airbus' global titanium strategy to secure the supply of such an important raw material.