The Brits' Global Spread

Asian Aerospace 2000 -- The British aerospace industry not only raised more than $4 billion in export revenue last year-it employed 22,000 people overseas, many of them in the US where UK-owned firms are working on some of the most advanced US military programs, Ken Maciver said at a press briefing here.

The TRW-Lucas CEO (and Society of British Aerospace Companies VP) was responding to what some had perceived as implications by the French that the British aero industry has been inward looking and is not truly internationalist.

"One indication of the UK's position (in the US) is that, of the 63 foreign company ownership and influence agreements with the US DoD, 33 are with British firms. The most any other European country has is five," Maciver said.

The British aero industry's global reach is further displayed by the fact that its 12.5% share of the world market is worth some $25 billion. The industry was responsible for 7.1% of all UK exports of manufactured goods.

British aerospace companies have numerous operations and/or customer and product support bases in Singapore and elsewhere in this region, Maciver pointed out.

A questioner who suggested that British firms had largely ignored Asian capabilities was roundly slapped down by Richard Turner, of Rolls-Royce. Rolls has "very successful" joint ventures for engine manufacture in both Singapore and China, he said, as well as a collaborative venture in Japan.

By Bob Rodwell