North's Defence Sales 'Take-off'

The first ever study of the Northern Ireland's aerospace, defence and security industry has just landed.

The report finds that the sector contributes almost £1bn per year and 7,500 jobs to the regional economy.

Defence sales alone were worth £128m to Northern Ireland businesses last year, the new survey has found.

The companies involved manufacture and supply a range of defence products in the region including missiles, military clothing and covert technologies.

The new report by Aerospace, Defence, Security (ASDS) also found that Northern Ireland contributed 7.1% of the total UK aerospace output in 2010.

David Beatty, Chairman of ADS Northern Ireland, said: "The aerospace, defence and security sectors are proud of the major economic benefit that they bring to Northern Ireland. For the first time we can now quantify the scale of that contribution."

Commenting, the NI Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Arlene Foster, said the findings of this survey "clearly demonstrate the importance" of the aerospace, defence and security sector to the region's economy.

"The companies involved, from inward investors to locally owned businesses, provide highly innovative and cost effective solutions to global markets, whilst reinforcing this region's reputation for technological expertise and excellence," she said.

Taking Off

The report stated that total sales from Northern Ireland amounted to £960m and that civil aerospace accounted for 85% of sales (£774m), defence 14% (£128m) with security (thought to be under-reported in the survey) at only 1% (£11m).

It also emerged that over 90% of revenues (£860m) come from exports, with £664m being exported outside the UK.

The EU received 20% (£173m), the US 12.8% (£110m) and the rest of the world 44.2% (£380m).

Exports from aerospace, defence and security represent 12.8% of all Northern Ireland Manufacturing exports.

David Beatty, Chairman of ADS concluded: "The future is also bright for Northern Ireland in this regard because, despite the forthcoming impact of defence cuts in the UK and many of our export markets, we expect the civil aerospace sector to continue to grow.

"This is especially good news for Northern Ireland given the major involvement that we have in the new Bombardier CSeries passenger aircraft programme in particular."

Bombardier

The report is timed to coincide with the International Paris Air Show where, east Belfast's Bombardier Aerospace is this week exhibiting with five of its industry-leading aircraft.

Featured on static display will be five airplanes from Bombardier’s portfolio of business and commercial aircraft, including the midsize Learjet 60 XR aircraft, super midsize Challenger 300 jet, ultra long-range Global 6000 jet, Q400 NextGen turboprop airliner and CRJ1000 NextGen regional jet.

"In the 25 years that have passed since Bombardier entered the aerospace industry, we have grown to become the world's third largest civil aircraft manufacturer," said Guy C. Hachey, President and Chief Operating Officer, Bombardier Aerospace.

"We reached this position of leadership by paying strict attention to our customers' needs and challenges, and through our ability to think outside of the box.

"This approach allowed us to invent the first regional jet - the CRJ regional jet, to redefine the business jet market with our exceptional family of Global jets, and develop our all-new CSeries commercial aircraft, which is specifically designed to meet the requirements of the 100- to 149-seat market segment.

"Our innovative products, which bring significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, fuel consumption and noise footprint, are also paving the way for a more sustainable future for aviation," he said.

(BMcC/GK)