U.S.-based Honeywell Aerospace has signed a strategic agreement with South Africa’s government-owned Denel Aviation to retrofit, modify and upgrade military aircraft and commercial helicopters, Defenceweb reports.

Denel is an aerospace and defense technology conglomerate established in 1991.

Honeywell Aerospace is the largest manufacturer of aircraft engines and avionics, and produces auxiliary power units and other aviation products. It is responsible for about 30 percent of parent Honeywell’s total revenue with half from commercial and half from defense contracts. The division generates $10 billion in annual sales with $2 billion in profit. In 2010, 75 percent of revenue was from the Americas.

The two companies will work to provide customers in sub-Saharan Africa with integrated solutions for a wide range of Honeywell avionics, satellite communication and mechanical products that increase operational capability, reduce cost, and enhance safety, reliability and efficiency, Honeywell Aerospace announced Nov. 5.

Honeywell wants to position its avionics and communications systems in Africa through Denel’s maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities, according to a report in Janes.

Honeywell Aerospace expects that 4,750-to-5,250 civilian-use helicopters will be delivered during 2015-to-2019, according to DCNewsroom. In its 17th annual Turbine-Powered Civil Helicopter Purchasing Outlook, Honeywell Aerospace presented a snapshot of the helicopter business.

Honeywell said in 2011 it expected future revenue sources to become more geographically diverse as aviation grows in African countries and in India.

“It used to be the case that 80 percent of customers, suppliers and manufacturers were in the U.S.,” said Paolo Carmassi, president of Honeywell Aerospace Europe, Africa, Middle East and India, in a November, 2011 interview with AINOnline. “Aircraft were designed to fly U.S. coast-to-coast because that was 80 percent of what was needed. In the last 10 years, however, the market has started to shift eastward at an unprecedented rate, presenting a range of challenges and opportunities.”

In Africa, lack of infrastructure means that aircraft have to be smarter to maintain the same level of safety, AIN reported. “We have developed a number of upgrades–usually simple upgrades–to enable aircraft to overcome the deficiencies on the ground by giving pilots a new level of awareness,” Carmassi said.

Sub-Saharan Africa is a critical market for Honeywell and Denel, according to DefenceWeb. The companies aim to use their complementary knowledge to address challenges specific to the region with speedy maintenance and repair. A goal is to help customers reduce downtime and extend the lifespan of their fleets, Honeywell Aerospace said.

The agreement, signed in October, will provide greater capabilities and support to more than 1,500 military and commercial platforms in the region, according to DefenceWeb.