Airbus and two South African companies — Denel Aerostructures and Aerosud Aviation — have signed a three-way agreement.

This will allow the two South African manufacturers to bid for more work on Airbus’s commercial airliner programmes.

Denel and Aerosud have previously supplied components for the A400M, a turbo-prop military transport aircraft; they will now work together to bid for larger contracts.

Denel specialises in the production of bigger aircraft parts, while Aerosud manufactures smaller components in large volumes.

Simon Ward, Airbus vice-president for international co-operation, said the agreement will “bolster the South African government’s strategy to develop a vibrant and strong indigenous aerospace industry”.