A WESTHOUGHTON hydraulics manufacturer has won a slice of a 20-year, £6.7 billion civil helicopter project.

Bosses of APPH Group, based on the Wingates Industrial Estate, says the company has signed a contract with Eurocopter France to design, certify and manufacture the landing gear system for the new EC175 helicopter.

The 16-seat, seven-ton utility helicopter is a joint development programme between Eurocopter and Harbin Aviation Industries Group, of China.

The market for the programme is expected to be up to 1,000 helicopters, with a production life of 20 years.

The value of the contract for original equipment and spares is anticipated to be in excess of £50 million, of which APPH will be getting its share.

Development of the helicopter, which is expected to take five years, started earlier this year.

A prototype is due to make its first flight in 2009, with European and Chinese certification set for 2011, the year in which full production is due to start.

A spokesman for APPH said that the multi-million pound contract, which was won against tough European competition, would significantly increase its profile in the global aviation systems market.

Dave Haslam, Divisional Managing Director, said: "I am delighted that, after lengthy negotiations, we have secured this contract with a prestigious new customer.

"It continues our strategic objective of becoming the primary supplier of landing gear systems to the global helicopter market sector."

This is the second big contract APPH has won in a matter of weeks.

In November, the firm, which employs 57 people, announced that it had been chosen by Lichfield manufacturer Elbit Systems to design and manufacture the nose landing gear system for the Watchkeeper Unmanned Air Vehicle.

It was part of a £317 million order awarded to manufacturers as part of the Ministry of Defence's Watchkeeper programme, which is due to enter service this year.