Composite aerospace structures specialists Tods Aerospace has further developed its international partnership portfolio with a contract from Hybrid Air Vehicles (H.A.V.) to design and build a series of 'ultra-lightweight' components for the revolutionary United States Army Long Endurance Multi-Intelligence Vehicle (LEMV). The prime contractor to the US DoD is Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems.

The LEMV is an unmanned military airship platform to provide "a persistent unblinking stare high up in the air" to monitor changes in battlefield operations. The vast craft is designed to stay aloft for 21days or more for each intelligence mission. The contract is for three LEMV's and are likely to support US troops in Afghanistan.

Utilising their specialist expertise in ultra-lightweight materials technology, Tods Aerospace has been commissioned to design, develop and manufacture a number of work packages including Tail Fins, Tail Battens and Propulsion Ducts. With the first LEMV scheduled to be airborne in by mid- 2011, Tods and H.A.V. engineering teams are working closely together to resolve the time challenges this program produces.

Tom Hitchings, Programmes Director at Tods Aerospace, commented: "Both Tods Aerospace and H.A.V., each with our own specialist aerospace disciplines, move together into the emerging market for next generation airship production. This unique project to include large ultra-lightweight composite structures, will allow our engineering design team to extend their contact with yet another highly respected international industry leader. We look forward to this partnership, and are very confident we can fully exploit our existing skills, with usual military and commercial airframes, on these very large high profile airship structures"

Tods have set aside facilities at their Crewkerne, Somerset and Portland, Dorset sites specifically for the production of the LEMV structures.