Almost £28 million has been invested in aircraft design in Belfast.

Bombardier Aerospace will develop and manufacture major wing components for the Learjet 85 business aircraft using innovative technology.

Work will be carried out in Bombardier's new wing manufacturing and assembly centre in Northern Ireland.

Invest Northern Ireland offered £5.1 million, part funded by the European Regional Development Fund, towards Bombardier's investment.

Michael Ryan, general manager of Bombardier in Belfast, said: "This new work package will enable us to expand our unique Resin Transfer Infusion (RTI) advanced composite process for aircraft wings, as well as build on our abilities in the composites field.

"Given the success we have had to date with our C Series aircraft demonstrator wing using the RTI technology, we are confident that this process can be further developed, adapted and applied to our Learjet 85 business jet."

A total of £27.7 million was invested in research and development.

Enterprise minister Arlene Foster said it demonstrated the confidence placed in local aerospace.

"As the company focuses heavily on developing its composites capability, the involvement of the Belfast site in the Learjet 85 and C Series aircraft programmes will further secure its position as a technology leader for composite wing manufacture," she added.