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With FR-HiTEMP (fuel system), Chelton (radomes) and Flight Refuelling (missile eject launcher) all involved, Cobham provides around £750,000 of equipment for every Eurofighter (Financial Times 23.3.2001).
Since the acquisition of BAE Systems' radome division for $7.42m in 2000, Chelton has been the sole supplier of radomes for Hawk jets. FR-HiTEMP, another company purchased from BAE Systems in 2000, provide the fuel systems for the Hawks (Jane's Defence Industry 14.10.2000).Hawk jets have recently been sold to Australia and South
Africa and BAE Systems are currently trying to finalise a Hawk deal with India.
Although Cobham companies worked with Boeing on their unsuccessful bid to build the new JSF ($800,000 invested in the fuel system), FR-HiTEMP will provide a range of components for the winning Lockheed Martin fighter. The current development and demonstration phase of the project will define the extent of future involvement. Other Cobham companies, such as Sargent Fletcher (weapon ejection) and Stanley Aviation (fuel systems), are working hard to obtain further work on this aircraft (Cobham new business update 1.11.2001).
In terms of exports, the JSF is expected to emulate the F-16 fighter which has been sold extensively around the world. Current F-16 customers include Bahrain, Egypt, Israel, Jordan and the UAE in the Middle East, as well as Indonesia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand in Asia.
As well as being part of the fuel system team for the new Joint Strike Fighter, Flight Refuelling has new contracts with the Swedish Airforce totalling £7.8m and with the German MoD (£8m). (Cobham Annual Report 2001)
Cobham group company "Flight Precision" has been awarded a contract worth £40m over 10 years to supply a flight inspection service for the MoD (Air Forces Monthly Jan 2002).
National Jet Systems (Australia) have benefited from Australian Prime Minister Howard's vow to crack down on asylum seekers. This Cobham company will provide surveillance flights and equipment upgrades to help Australian Customs and Military to monitor Australia's coastline. This has involved the purchase of two new Bombadier Dash 8-200 aircraft (Cobham Annual Report 2000). Prime Minister Howard's "coastwatch" program is the largest of its kind in the world and will be worth £12.8m to Cobham over the next four years (Cobham News Nov 2001).
"Australia is now turning boats full of asylum seekers away from Australian waters in contravention of international maritime law." .
The Australian Government's policy towards asylum seekers and especially boat people has been condemned as cruel and racist by many within Australia and by the wider international community.
Although the majority of Cobham's products are made for European or American Military purposes, there is evidence of expansion into new markets. FR Aviation will supply training aircraft for the UAE, a move which "marks completion of the first phase of what is hoped will become a long and rewarding association with the UAE armed forces" . Cobham's Chelton group have agreed to supply similar training aircraft to the Jordanian Military (Cobham News, Winter 2001). Cobham companies will also be attending "Asian Aerospace 2002" (See "New Products").
Cobham is one of five equal partners bidding for a contract to provide air/air refuelling systems for the UK's £9bn air tanker programme Private Finance Initiative (Financial Times 3.7.2001).
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