Abu Dhabi's Mubadala to build aerostructures plant

ABU DHABI, June 15 (Reuters) - Mubadala Development Co, an investment arm of the Abu Dhabi government, said on Sunday it will start an aerostructures plant later this month.

The first phase of the plant will be operational in the fourth quarter of 2010, Mubadala said in a statement, adding that it would produce "advanced composite aerostructures," but did not give an estimate of the cost.

"Strata has formed industrial partnerships with leading aerospace companies EADS (EAD.PA: Quote, Profile, Research), Airbus, FACC and Alenia Aeronautica -- a Finmeccanica (SIFI.MI: Quote, Profile, Research) company -- through which composite aerostructure manufacturing programs will be established in the new plant," it said.

It said that initial contracts with partners have totaled more than $2 billion.

The plant will manufacture advanced composite aerostructures, including flap track fairings, ailerons, spoilers and assemblies for Airbus aircraft and the empennage for the ATR Regional Aircraft -- a joint venture between EADS and Finmeccanica, it said.

"Strata will progressively build capabilities that include engineering, design, and research and development," it said of the plant, headed by Ross Bradley, the former Farnborough Aerospace Consortium chief executive.

"This investment in establishing a market leading advanced aerostructures facility will support the demands of current and future generations of commercial aircraft," said Bradley.

"Strata will supply highly competitive products and services to the global aerospace industry, supporting the establishment of Abu Dhabi as a major aerospace centre." (Reporting by Inal Ersan, editing by Martin Golan)