Aerospace and defence group Cobham will increase its workforce following a deal with aerospace firm Astrium.
Cobham facilities at Chichester and Les Clayes-sous-Bois in France will increase their skilled manufacturing workforce by 20% to 25% over the next 18 months as a result of a long-term agreement (LTA) with Astrium.
The £14m LTA means that Cobham will provide Astrium with fixed waveguides for telecommunication satellites during the next 18 months and includes an option to extend production to 2014.
The specialised waveguides will be used on satellites purchased by major customers of Astrium for direct to home TV broadcast, broadband, and telecommunications applications. A waveguide is a structure which guides waves, such as electromagnetic waves (as used by satellites) or sound waves.
Eiji Kawaishi, vice president of Cobham Aerospace Communications, said: “These agreements for our waveguide business units are important milestones in our business plans. The agreement demonstrates Astrium’s confidence in the high quality of our product and our performance as a committed business partner with them.”
