Agusta and Westland merge

Europe's two remaining non-aligned helicopter manufacturers, Agusta and GKN-Westland, have merged to formed AgustaWestland. Their respective parent companies, Italian aerospace and defence company Finmeccanica Spa and Britain's GKN plc, each own 50% of the newly created company.

The merged operation has combined 2000 revenues of more than US$2.4 billion and a civil and defence order book of about US$8 billion. Kevin Smith, an Executive Director of GKN and Managing Director of its Aerospace Businesses, is Chairman of the new company. Amedeo Caporaletti is Chief Executive of the joint venture, and Richard Case is Managing Director.

In Australia the local offices of the two partners are still working out how to merge their respective operations. Agusta is preparing a bid for the Army's Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH) project, Air 87, based on its A129 Scorpion helicopter.

GKN-Westland has been preparing an unsolicited bid, in partnership with the UK Minister of Defence's Disposal Services Agency to supply 12 ex-Royal Navy Seaking Mk4 or Mk6 helicopters to meet Army's requirement for a further 12 trooplift helicopters. These aircraft, given high priority in the Defence White Paper, are required to operate off the Navy's LPAs. The UK Royal Marines use the Mk4 and Mk 6 Seakings as shipborne assault helicopters so the aircraft are already marinised with folding blades and tail booms.

This would be the fastest, most cost-effective interim air vehicle solution for this requirement, a company source told ADM. Further down the track Agusta Westland will offer the EH-101 Merlin to relace the ADF's battlefield and shipboard helicopters with a single type under Project Air 9000, he said.