NEWS

LEADING UK manufacturer AEI Cables has been awarded a prestigious £8m contract to supply cables to help build the next generation of aircraft carriers for the British fleet - the largest ships to enter service in the UK.

The Aircraft Carrier Alliance awarded the prestigious contract to the company, based at Birtley, Co Durham, for the Royal Navy Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carrier Programme.

AEI Cables will be designing and manufacturing the full range of cable and wiring to supply power, lighting, data communications, fire protection and alarm circuits which need to operate in the most demanding of conditions. The 2,500km of cable for the project would stretch further than from Birtley where AEI has its headquarters to Moscow.

The carriers will be the biggest and most powerful surface warships ever constructed for the Royal Navy and represent a step change in capability, enabling the delivery of increased strategic effect and influence around the world.

Jim Duffy, Chief Executive of AEI Cables, said: “We’re delighted to win such a major contract and contribute to such an innovative, ground-breaking project.

“This award recognises our technical expertise and manufacturing capability as our products are required to meet the very highest levels of quality and safety standards.”

The development programme is being run by the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, whose Programme Director Geoff Searle said: “Once in service, these ships will provide the UK Armed Forces with a vital and extensive naval capability, so it is equally important that we use suppliers who will share the ACA’s commitment to ensuring that together we deliver the best ships possible to the Royal Navy.

“Equally as important, most of these contracts, placed for the Aircraft Carrier Alliance will support local economies and jobs throughout the UK regions.

“The ACA has achieved many substantial milestones in the last 12 months, including commencing work on the build of HMS Queen Elizabeth in four UK shipyards and completing work on the huge Number One Dock in Rosyth where the ships will finally be assembled. Continuing this level of momentum is essential and the signing of these contracts is testimony that it will continue through 2010 and beyond.”

See the AEI Cables website at www.aeicables.co.uk

NOTES TO EDITORS

AEI Cables, based at Birtley in the north east of England, has 170 years of cable making experience and is an internationally recognised and respected brand. The company, part of Paramount Communications Ltd, one of India’s largest cable manufacturers, is a world class provider of cabling solutions serving industries including construction, defence, industrial, fire protection, mining, oil and gas, power and rail. Experience gained working across industries worldwide has resulted in one of the most comprehensive cable product ranges available anywhere today.

About the Queen Elizabeth Class

The contract to build the two new Aircraft Carriers for the Royal Navy was signed on 3rd July 2008. The carriers will be the biggest and most powerful surface warships ever constructed for the UK and represent a step change in Joint Capability. They will enable the delivery of increased strategic effect and influence around the world, at a time and place of the UK’s choosing, and will be a key component of the improved expeditionary capabilities needed to confront the diverse range of threats in today’s security environment.

Fast Facts

• The QE Class Aircraft Carriers will be 65,000 tonnes at full displacement – over three times the size of the current Invincible Class Aircraft Carriers.
• Length: 280m – 90m longer than the existing aircraft carrier.
• Width: 70m – twice the width of the existing aircraft carrier.
• Each ship will provide four acres of sovereign territory.
• Each ship has six main electrical generators which together will generate 80MW of power - enough to run 1,000 family cars or 50 high speed trains.
• 56m from keel to masthead – 6m taller than Nelson's Column.
• 110MW power station on board each ship – that’s enough to provide all of Portsea Island with power.
• The distribution network on board will generate enough energy to power 300,000 kettles or 5,500 family homes (a town the size of Swindon).

All media enquiries, please contact:

Paul Tustin
Freshfield Marketing Communications
Tel: 01772 888400
eMail: paul@freshfield.com