EADS is a majority shareholder in the Toulouse-based aircraft concern, which has said it needs more titanium for the A380 and A350 than for previous designs, owing to the introduction of new composite and other improved materials for weight- and fuel-efficiency purposes.
"Our partnership with Airbus has lasted for almost two decades, and this contract will bring our relations to a new level, where supplies will be expanded from semi-finished products to a considerable share of finished ones," said Vladislav Tetyukhin, the general director of Urals-based Vsmpo-Avisma, which posted a net profit of $228 million in 2005.
The contract will run for five years.
Vsmpo-Avisma was established in July 2005, when Avisma (an acronym for Special Aviation Materials that dates back to the Soviet era) merged with Vsmpo (Verkhnaya Salda Metallurgical Production Association).
