Meggitt bladders fuel profit hopes

21st Jul 2011 08:16

Meggitt, the FTSE 250 extreme engineering firm, has won an order to supply blast resistant fuel bladders to BAE Systems.The bladders will be used in the Bradley fighting vehicle, which transports troops but can also provide covering fire.The bladders will prevent fuel fires even when the vehicle comes under intense attack.The technology used is effective with metal fragments resulting from the detonation of an improvised explosive device (IED). IEDs have been the bane of US and UK forces fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. The initial contract, worth $12 million, covers only a fraction of the 4,600 BAE Systems Bradley fighting vehicles in service but the firm claims further contracts are anticipated as the rest of the fleet is upgraded.The Chief Executive of Meggitt, Terry Twigger commented: "This first ground vehicle contract for leak-proof, life-saving fuel containment products evidences real success in our strategy to expanding beyond aerospace."BS