OREANDA-NEWS. April 22, 2009. Airbus, the world’s leading aircraft manufacturer, its parent company EADS, a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services and The Russian Technologies State Corporation integrated structure VSMPO-AVISMA Corporation, the Russian Titanium manufacturer, have signed the biggest and longest-term contract in the history of Airbus/EADS cooperation with Russian industry, reported the press-centre of VSMPO-AVISMA.

The agreement was signed today in Moscow by Sergey Chemezov, General Director of ‘Russian Technologies’ state corporation and Tom Enders, President and CEO of Airbus in the presence of Vladimir Putin, Russian Prime-Minister, Walter Jurgen Schmid, German Ambassador to Russia, Jean de Gliniasty, French Ambassador to Russia and Juan Antonio March Pujol, Spanish Ambassador to Russia.

The agreement covers the supply of Titanium to Airbus and other EADS Divisions until 2020. The scope of the contract includes the supply of Titanium and covers die forging parts for all existing Airbus aircraft, including new programmes such as the A350XWB. VSMPO-AVISMA Corporation may also machine Titanium products in order to develop a vertically integrated Titanium supply chain, starting from raw materials to finished products.

The contract comes as a confirmation of the framework agreement signed in July 2008 at Farnborough Airshow. The new agreement further boosts the relationship between the companies, which dates back to the early 1990s. It also enlarges Airbus’ cooperation with the Russian aviation industry, which currently includes production of components for Airbus at Russian plants, passenger to freighter aircraft conversions (P2F) and joint Research & Technology (R&T) projects.

VSMPO-AVISMA Corporation strengthens its role as a leading supplier of Titanium to Airbus/EADS, covering major Titanium requirements. The benefits of Titanium include strength and low weight properties that are in high demand in the aerospace industry. On aircraft, it is used in particular for landing gear systems, pylons and structural parts of the fuselage and wings.

“Airbus is preparing for long-term growth. This agreement is an important pillar of our internationalisation and especially our strategic relationship with Russian industry", says Tom Enders, President and CEO of Airbus.

Sergey Chemezov, General Director of ‘Russian technologies’ adds, “The signed agreement demonstrates that Russia can offer high technology products to the world market and is one of the leading players in such an important sector as the aerospace industry.”