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European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) [Netherlands] |
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World ranking: 8 Head Offices:
EADS Deutschland GmbH, P.O. Box 801109, 81663 Munich, Germany BACKGROUND EADS was established on July 10th 2000 from the link-up of Deutsche Aerospace Agentur (DASA) from Germany, Aerospatiale Matra from France, and Constructionnes Aeronauticas S.A. (CASA) from Spain, and is registered in the Netherlands. EADS shares are mainly controlled by the German car builder DaimlerChrysler, the French media group Lagardère and the French state.2 It has more than 70 facilities in France, Germany, Spain. While Airbus is its dominant project it has a wide range of military interests and is seeking to increase the proportion of its turnover that is military-related. EADS in the UK EADS has UK locations in Broughton (Airbus), Coventry, Filton (Airbus), Milton Keynes, Newport, Newcastle, Portsmouth (Astrium) and Poynton (Astrium), as well as MBDA locations in Bristol, London, Lostock and Stevenage. EADS and MBDA in London: MBDA (Headquarters), 11 Strand, London WC2N 5RJ What it makes EADS is a partner in the Eurofighter programme, manufactures military transport aircraft, owns Eurocopter which produces the Tiger attack helicopter as well as military utility helicopters, is a co-owner of MBDA, the world's second largest missile company, has military space programmes through Astrium and produces nuclear missiles. Missiles: EADS brings together the products of missile manufacturers MBDA and EADS/LFK-Lenkflugkörpersysteme, resulting in over 40 guided missile programmes. EADS also develops and manufactures, both alone and in joint ventures, missile subsystems such as warheads, guidance systems and propulsion units.3 MBDA, owned by EADS, BAE Systems (37.5% each) and Finmeccanica of Italy (25%)4 is the world's second largest guided missile manufacturer (after Raytheon).5 In 2002, MBDA had 10,000 employees, sales of 2bn Euros, an order book of more than 13bn Euros and 70 customers worldwide. 6 It has 32 missile programmes in production and a further 23 in development.7 MBDA is working in cooperation with India's Bharat Dynamics and in June 2003 signed a co-operation protocol with EADS and Russia's Sukhoi Corporation and sales agency Rosoboronexport. 8 MBDA's main missile programmes are: airborne (air-to-air and air-to-ground) and surface-to-air. Air-to-air missiles include Meteor which has been selected to arm Eurofighter, Rafale and Gripen fighter aircraft. MBDA supplies the RAF with the ALARM air-to-ground tactical anti-radar missile, 45 of which were used in Iraq this year.9 MBDA also developed Storm Shadow, a conventionally armed cruise missile deployed on RAF Tornado for the first time in March 2003 against Iraq. Surface-to-air missile systems include Rapier, Gill/Spike, ATM, Gepard, Mistral 2 and Milan. Nuclear Missiles: EADS Launch Vehicles, and its predecessors are reported to have been responsible for the design and production of every French ballistic missile since 1960. This includes a December 2000 contract with the French government for the new generation of sea-based missiles, the M-51, which will be equipped with a nuclear warhead. The other component of Frances nuclear force is missile for strike aircraft. In December 2001 Aerospatiale Matra Missiles (a subsidiary of EADS) was contracted for the initial development and purchase of such medium-range nuclear missiles.10 Ballistic Missile Defense: In addition to being involved in nuclear deterrence, EADS, like many other nuclear weapons companies, is involved in the contradictory strategy of a missile 'shield'. EADS has been involved in a NATO feasibility study into 'Theatre Missile Defense', is part of the Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) programme, and in 2002 it announced that it was linking with Boeing to work on Ballistic Missile Defense. 'We believe ballistic defence to be an important focus in the shifting defence environment and key to ensuring peace in a free world,' said EADS joint chief executives Phillipe Camus and Rainer Hertrich.11 Exports EADS has so far had little success in its search for Eurofighter customers, but other programmes have seen more impressive results. It has sold Cougar helicopters to Brazil, Super Pumas to Indonesia, Exocet missiles to Oman and Qatar, anti-tank missiles to Turkey and Mistral missiles to South Korea. It has sold hundreds of military transport aircraft to more than 89 operators in 38 countries including Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Indonesia, South Korea, Oman, South Africa, Turkey, Thailand; Poland, The United Arab Emirates. 12
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