News clips from Le Bourget

Boeing announced today at the Paris Air Show that Japan Airlines (JAL) has placed an order for three Boeing 777-200ERs.The value of the new aircraft at list prices is estimated at $525 million.Deliveries are scheduled between 2003 and 2006. This order marks the initial replacements for the fleet of 15 DC-10s that the JAL Group currently operates.Additional replacement orders, including commitments for 767-300ERs, are expected at a future date. In November last year, the airline ordered eight 777-200ERs and three 767-300ERs to replace its MD-11 fleet, for delivery from 2002 through 2004.

At the Paris Air Show today, Jean-Marie Luton, Chairman and CEO of Arianespace, and Michael Storey, CEO and President of Inmarsat Ventures plc, signed a letter of intent for a launch services contract for at least one of the Inmarsat I-4 communications satellites. Arianespace has already orbited five satellites for Inmarsat. The Inmarsat I-4 satellites under negotiation with Arianespace would be launched on board an Ariane 5 from the Guiana Space Centre, Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, during 2003/2004. Each Inmarsat 4 satellites will weigh more than 6 metric tons at lift-off. Built by Astrium, they will allow Inmarsat to deliver a Broadband Global Area Network (B-GAN) solution with data rates of up to 432 kbits/s.

Hardigg UK has been selected as the preferred supplier by BAE Systems for the supply of AGE, WSTAGE and category 1 containers for the Eurofighter aircraft. This is one of the largest special to contents container contracts ever let in Europe. This is the first time on a major aircraft programme, that the same container design has been used for the multiple role of interfactory, ground support/ground handling, logistic/spares and front line container. Eliminating the usual duplication has led to massive time, resource and financial savings.

Arianespace and PanAmSat announced the signature at the Paris Air Show of three contracts for the launch of communications satellites for the North American market. Galaxy 12 will be launched by an Ariane 5 or Ariane 4 at the end of 2002 from the Guiana Space Centre, Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. PAS Light 2 and 3 are scheduled for Ariane 5 launches during the second half of2003 and in 2004, respectively. Orbital Sciences Corporation of Dulles, Virginia will build all three satellites, using the Star 2 platform. Weighing about 1,700 kg. at launch, they will be positioned at 99, 125 and 133 degrees West, respectively. Each is fitted with 20 C-band transponders, and will help PanAmSat expand its telecommunications services throughout North America.

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