In mid-January, RUAG Aerostructures Switzerland and Pilatus Aircraft reached an agreement on the sale of the machine park and the transfer of all employees. The sale to Pilatus is part of the strategic goals for RUAG International set by the Federal Council. RUAG Aerostructures Switzerland is one of the world's leading manufacturers and suppliers of aerostructures. Based in Emmen, the company has been producing parts and components for Pilatus aircraft since the early 1990s. These include PC-21 fuselages and the tailplane of the PC-12.
In a first step, Pilatus is taking over the entire production of RUAG Aerostructures at the Emmen site with around 130 employees, followed by a gradual takeover of the remaining 100 employees. In the future Pilatus Aircraft will manufacture exclusively parts and components for its own aircraft in Emmen. RUAG Aerostructures Schweiz will continue to exist as a company for the time being and will finalise existing customer commitments with non-Pilatus customers. In the medium and long term, Pilatus intends to expand its own production at the Emmen site and create further jobs.
With the sale of RUAG Aerostructures Switzerland, RUAG International has reached a further milestone in the implementation of the strategy defined by its owner, the Swiss Confederation. Following the transfer of ownership to Pilatus, RUAG International's business will be fully focussed on Beyond Gravity. This business segment is a leading supplier of products for the global space market in the field of satellites and launch vehicles as well as technologies for the semiconductor market. In accordance with federal requirements, Beyond Gravity will also be privatised by the end of 2025 at the latest.