General Electric and Moog eye BAE Systems aerospace unit

General Electric, Honeywell International and United Technologies today emerged as some of the suitors eyeing up BAE Systems' aerospace unit, which it put up for sale for $2 billion (£1.27 billion) last month.

The unit has also attracted interest from aerospace suppliers Goodrich, Moog and Esterline Technologies as well as the private equity giant Carlyle Group, insiders told Reuters.

Interested parties are carrying out due diligence, with final bids expected next month.

Bankers see a healthy pipeline of deals in the commercial aerospace market as buyers gain confidence at the signs of an industry upturn.

GE, a major customer of BAE, is mainly attracted by the division of the platform solutions group that makes electronic controls for aircraft-engines.