BAE SYSTEMS AUSTRALIA NAMES SMALL BUSINESS AS KEY TO AIR 9000

BAE SYSTEMS Australia reported today that the secondary phase of the industry engagement process for the AgustaWestland led AIR 9000 team has successfully concluded. The Air 9000 program aims to rationalise the Australian Defence Force's (ADF's) military helicopter fleet, including the number of helicopter types and their support arrangements. The team has offered the EH101 as the new additional troop-lift helicopter and for the eventual retirement of the Army Blackhawk fleet.

Completing a three week long program of supplier conferences and bi-lateral discussions designed to enhance, co-ordinate and maximise synergies across Australia's military air support industry base, the company announced that over 150 small to medium enterprises (SME) had formally registered as potential key supply chain participants.

Speaking from the Adelaide headquarters of BAE SYSTEMS Australia, spokesman Patrick Stringer said, "Innovation is one of the key drivers of economic growth. We have taken an extremely strategic approach to our AIR 9000 industry package and will invest in high leverage technologies such as software development and electronics. The know-how and intellectual property is created in Australia and remains ours to exploit internationally�.

The supplier conference process was aimed at aligning and matching SME's with the industry initiatives offered to the federal government in the AgustaWestland AIR 9000 bid.

"Small business has accounted for 70 per cent of jobs growth in the Australian economy over the past decade and contributes about 30 per cent to GDP. Our conferences were aimed specifically at small and regional business and we have 150 potential new entrants into the global Aerospace economy�.

This is in line with the key industry outcomes sought by government under AIR 9000, including greater co-ordination and efficiencies within the Aerospace industry sector and as a result greater global supply chain access.