10 November, 2015 - Dubai Air Show - Tawazun Precision Industries (TPI), a UAE-based subsidiary of Emirates Defense Industries Company (EDIC), and Finmeccanica-Alenia Aermacchi, the Italian aerospace company, signed a supply agreement to cooperate on civil aero-structural components. 

The work package agreement envisages the supply of four aluminum structural parts of the ATR-72 aircraft. It represents the first step for a long-term partnership between the two companies in the field of manufacturing aero-structural components.

Recently, TPI has successfully delivered to Alenia Aermacchi the first series of components manufactured in the UAE.

The collaboration represents a significant step for the UAE's aerospace industry and demonstrates TPI's competences to introduce new certified metallic components manufacturing.

Matar Al Romaithi, the Chief Officer, Industrial Development Unit of the Tawazun Economic Council said: "This is another success story of the UAE aerospace industry. We are pleased with the partnership between TPI and Finmeccanica-Alenia Aermacchi. This signifies that we are at the forefront, as the new components will be produced for the first time within the Gulf Region."

The new agreement is a product of implementing the Tawazun Economic Program,  which is intented to promote partnerships and joint ventures between UAE companies and international contractors with the aim of establishing a home-grown defence manufacturing sector.

The Program, which is overlooked by the Tawazun Economic Council, seeks to derive economic and commercial value from the country's extensive defense procurement program, as part of the UAE's initiatives to modernize and acquire cutting edge systems and solutions. This ensures knowledge transfer and sustainability.

From strategically important Radar systems and patrol aircraft to safeguard the skies above the Arabian Gulf, to satellite technology used for everything from military communications to broadband internet systems, UAE companies are at the forefront.

"This partnership counts as a new milestone achieved by the Program and we look forward to initiate more fruitful collaborations in future." Mr. Al Romaithi added.

 "Along with the work package agreement," said Finmeccanica-Alenia Aermacchi, "we agreed to establish an industrial collaboration programme, which is aimed to support TPI to develop relevant technical capabilities. The programme will also include an educational and practical project for junior Emirati engineers".

The agreement is part of the Offset which Finmeccanica-Alenia Aermacchi is carrying out in conjunction with the Al Fursan Program, the UAE Aerobatic Team that debuted at the 2011 Dubai Air Show with the Alenia Aermacchi MB-339.

For more information:
TPI / EDIC
Lewis Green
+971 55 809 4672
email lg@consulum.com

Muzamil Bashir
+971 50 792 70 68
email Muzamil.Bashir@edic.ae

Tawazun Precision Industries (TPI), part of the Emirates Defence Industries Company (EDIC), serves all facets the growing needs of the UAE's growing defence industries and beyond. TPI's established manufacturing facility in Abu Dhabi is equipped with a wide range of capabilities such as engineering, production, surface & heat treatment, machining, coating, repairing and tooling. Defence, Aerospace and Oil & Gas are the three core business lines around which TPI has configured its competencies and each of its solutions is calibrated to industry specific standards.

Finmeccanica - Alenia Aermacchi has a role of primary importance in the world's civil and defence aeronautical industry, counts a total workforce of ca. 11,000 people and operates in the design, development, production and integrated support of commercial and military aircraft, trainers, unmanned aerial vehicles and aerostructures.

© Press Release 2015