DORSET-based engineering company Meggitt PLC has won a major contract for a new line of business jets.

The company, based at Bournemouth Airport, has secured a multi-million dollar deal to provide an advanced wheel and braking system for Gulfstream Aerospace’s new G500 and G600 aircraft.

The G500 and G600 will be capable of 5,000 and 6,200 nautical miles respectively and will have a maximum operating speed of Mach .925.

Meggit chief executive Stephen Young said: “Meggitt Aircraft Braking System continues to benefit from excellent demand worldwide for long-range business jets. This is one of Meggitt’s largest ever braking systems contracts in the business aviation marketplace, promising a strong revenue stream in spares and repairs over the life of the programme.

“At the same time, Meggitt’s innovative and wide-ranging G500 and G600 content demonstrates further progress in its strategy to build on its mastery of brake and anti-skid control – one of the most demanding engineering challenges in a braking system – by developing a full ATA32 control and monitoring capability.”

Meggitt is developing advan-ced wheels and compact carbon brakes for the two aircraft. Both jets will feature its tyre pressure monitoring system, an ‘intelli-gent’ brake-by-wire control system and a touchscreen-driven automatic braking system to maintain deceleration levels on touchdown and improve stopping performance.

The system will also provide brake temperature information to the avionics system for cockpit display.

Meggitt is the sole supplier of braking systems for Gulfstream’s in-service fleet and line-of-production aircraft.

Its braking products are installed on more than 30,000 aircraft worldwide, outstripping any other supplier. The company employs nearly 11,000 people internationally.