Boeing and European aerospace group EADS have made the surprise announcement of the Farnborough air show, revealing that they plan to work together for the first time.

The world's largest airplane maker has partnered with EADS, which is the majority owner of its archrival Airbus, to work on US missile defence project.

We are quite interested in the reactions by European governments

Rainer Hertrich EADS

Bitter bickering between Boeing and Airbus over orders and products is the usual fare at the air show.

The second day also finally brought in some commercial plane orders, which this year have been thin on the ground unlike the last show two years ago when a record $52bn worth were placed.

Tactical deal

The "historic" deal between Boeing and EADS is seen as the first step toward the US and Europe pursuing joint missile defence programmes.

Boeing was encouraged by the US government to seek European partners to ease opposition to the controversial plans.

"We believe there is a strong basis for the US and Europe to work together to face a common threat," said Rainer Hertrich, EADS co-chief executive.

"We understand that co-operation is the purpose of the US government's International Participation Offer and we are quite interested in the reactions by European governments," he added.

Boeing said it had also signed similar agreements with Britain's BAE Systems and Alenia-Spacio, a unit of Italy's Finmeccanica.

Commercial orders

On the civil aviation front, All Nippon Airways, Japan's second biggest airline, has placed the air show's biggest order for 14 new Boeing worth $1.46bn.

ANA's order and an announcement that it is retiring most of its Airbus' means it will soon become a pure Boeing fleet.

Meanwhile, Airbus said it had won an order for eight A330 and two A380 jets from Qatar Airways.

Brazilian aircraft maker Embraer also struck a deal to supply up to 20 aircraft to Indian carrier Jet Airways.

Jet Airways agreed to order 10 Embraer 175 aircraft, valued at $260m and take options to buy another 10 though the final contract has not yet been signed.

Jet Airways is India's largest private domestic airline and connects 41 destinations within India.