Press Release

Issued by General Atomics AeroTec Systems.

May 14, 2008

A milestone in the development of RUAG Aerospace Services at the Oberpfaffenhofen site is the resumption of series production of the Dornier 228 aircraft, now designated Dornier 228 "New Generation".

After extensive and detailed investigations and an in-depth audit by the bodies of RUAG a resumption in Oberpfaffenhofen near Munich of the Dornier 228 regional aircraft production was decided by the RUAG supervisory board.

Of this two-engine turboprop aircraft, nearly 250 aircraft were manufactured in Oberpfaffenhofen from 1982 to 2002. Of these, today more than 180 a/c are still in use worldwide. Since type certification and worldwide customer support takeover by RUAG Aerospace in 2003 the technical and operational readiness of the entire fleet could be increased considerably. The RUAG Aerospace production concept provides to carry out in Oberpfaffenhofen the aircraft final assembly, a/c outfitting and installation of special equipment.

In a trendsetting Indian-German cooperation the primary structure components fuselage, wings and tail unit are manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited of Kanpur (India) and delivered by land and by sea to Oberpfaffenhofen.

The Dornier 228 "New Generation" aircraft will be equipped with new digital avionics as well as a glass cockpit. Use of an advanced 5-blade propeller will reduce noise emission and enhance operational range of the aircraft as well as its takeoff and landing performances.

In the meantime a first customer order for six aircraft could be landed.