The UK aerospace industry’s traditionally strong cooperation with France looks set to continue through a contract recently awarded by the French Air Force for Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group to provide engineering services to their fleet of 14 C-130H aircraft.
The contract was announced on 22 December 2017, after a highly competitive bid process, and will see Marshall working closely with the state-owned Service Industriel de l’Aéronautique (SIAé) to service their fleet. It will involve the provision of technical expertise over a transition period, followed by a minimum of four years of full service delivery.
Headquartered in Cambridge, Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group has been involved with the aircraft industry for over 70 years – a tally which includes decades of proven experience on the C-130 platform. The Group also has an existing presence in France, a fact which no doubt contributed to the strength of its bid.
This latest example of British aerospace working closely with France only goes to bolster ties established through banner projects like Concorde and Airbus. It also shows how work can continue across borders. From delivering parts reliably to France to providing technical know-how in person – it’s all possible because the infrastructure is in place and the opportunities are there.
The contract between Marshall Aerospace and Defence and the French Air Force could in fact signify a new period of trust and cooperation between not just Britain and France but between Britain and other EU countries. The aerospace industry already accounts for 47% of the UK’s exports to the EU, involving over 110,000 jobs in Britain alone. For the UK, this is a massive industry with the potential to grow. For EU countries like France, there are benefits to be found in relying on British expertise and in choosing UK-made components.
Airbus, mentioned previously, provides an example of the continued demand for British workmanship, with the Rolls Royce Trent 700 engine having been chosen to power the Airbus Beluga XL transporter.
As Britain moves into uncharted political territory, Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group and the French Air Force are leading the way by showing that trade in goods, services and ideas should continue to grow.
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