Avon secures €80m deal from US Department of Defense

Melksham, UK – Avon Rubber plc has won a contract to supply the US Department of Defense (DoD) with the recently-developed M69 aircrew mask, the company announced 7 Jan.

The deal, with maximum value of $92.7 million (€81 million), also covers related accessories and engineering support for the aircrew masks, to be used by "strategic aircraft".

The sole source contract has a duration of up to seven years, with five years as base period in addition to two further one-year option periods.

Avon said it anticipated receiving the first order under this contract “shortly”. Deliveries are expected to commence in the second half of the current financial year, started October 2018.

“This contract award, following a collaborative development programme with the DoD, brings the M69 aircrew mask into production,” said Paul McDonald, chief executive officer.

McDonald went on to say that Avon was pursuing “a number of other identified opportunities” with the DoD and other military customers to extend its portfolio and customer base.

According to Avon's website, the M69 is based on the 50 series mask platform.

The mask has been specifically developed for aircrew wearers who require CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear) respiratory protection at all altitudes up to 40,000ft (12,000m).