A global aerospace business which is also one of the Gloucestershire's biggest employers in the sector, has seen turnover rise to £9,506 million.

In percentage terms that means Safran, which has a major specialist landing gear operation at Staverton, has seen a 23.9 per cent rise in its income.

Its half-year-report sees the French-owned business also reveal plans to collaborate with US defence giant Raytheon, which also happens to have a base at Barnwood, Gloucester.

Safran also unveiled plans to help develop "innovative hybrid electric propulsion systems for future air taxi and VTOL" (vertical take-off and landing) with the company Bell.

Philippe Petitcolin, chief executive officer of Safran, said: "During the first half of 2018, our performance was very strong with significant growth across all Safran businesses.

"We are expecting this good overall performance for propulsion, aircraft equipment and defence to continue and therefore we raise significantly our full year guidance.

"In addition, the integration plan of Zodiac Aerospace is being implemented and will progressively deliver the expected results.

"On the operational front, the ramp-up of LEAP production is proceeding and our objective remains to deliver around 1,100 LEAP engines at the end of this year."

During the Farnborough Airshow this year, CFM International (a joint venture between GE Aviation, a division of General Electric of the United States, and Safran Aircraft Engines) announced orders for 858 LEAP and CFM56 engines, in addition to LEAP and CFM56 services agreements, worth $15.7 billion (US).

Following the air show the LEAP order book stood at 15,450 engines with the CFM56 backlog standing at 434 engines.

CFM International plans to deliver around 1,100 LEAP engines in 2018, as previously indicated.

Twenty-seven airlines are now operating 240 aircraft powered by LEAP-1A engines and 41 airlines are operating 183 aircraft powered by LEAP-1B engines.

The first-half 2018 revenue included the four-month contribution of Euro 1,516 million from Zodiac Aerospace.

Zodiac Aerospace is described as a world leader in aerospace equipment and systems for commercial, regional and business aircraft and for helicopters and spacecraft.

It is a world leader in aerospace equipment and systems for commercial, regional and business aircraft and for helicopters and spacecraft and employs and estimated 35,000 people across 100 sites.