The Company Has Had Its Ups And Downs In The Decade Of Its Existance

In July 2000, the French Aerospatiale-Matra, the German DaimlerChrysler Aerospace (DASA) and the Spanish CASA companies merged to become EADS, and the company says that in the ensuing decade, it has become a global leader in the aeronautics, space, defence and associated services sector.

Since 2000, EADS' says its revenues have risen by 75% and, in 2009, stood at 42.8 billion euros. Total R&D investments have exceeded 22 billion euros and EADS has created more than 15,000 high-tech jobs in Europe. It says Airbus is now the world's leading commercial aircraft manufacturer, and Eurocopter has become the global leader in helicopters for the civil and parapublic markets, with its products accounting for 30% of the world's entire helicopter fleet. EADS Astrium built its European leadership around civil and military space systems and services, while EADS Defence & Security has become an essential supplier of systems solutions to armed forces and civil defence organisations around the world.

A320 File Photo

EADS can point to many ambitious projects that have become reality, including the success of the A320 family, as well as the Eurofighter, ultra-modern border surveillance systems, the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) for the International Space Station, the EC135 and the EC175. But like all huge companies, the decade has seen its share of stumbles. The A400M airlifter is flying, but years behind schedule and billions over budget, requiring the countries which have already invested in the program to find additional funding for its completion. And while impressive, the massive A380 has not seen the success the company had hoped, and has had its share of technical glitches come to light as the airplane matures.

EADS says in the next generation, the A400M will go into production, and development continues on the A350 XWB, the Talarion UAV and, even further into the future, the Advanced Re-entry Vehicle (ARV), the Ariane launcher family evolutions, and the Bluecopter project.

A400M File Photo

The Group says it is focusing on future generations by responding to their fascination for aerospace and by doing everything it can to ensure that technical and scientific careers are once again made attractive. To celebrate its 10th anniversary starting in the month of June, EADS will be inviting 10,000 school students to its various sites across Europe: Astrium at Les Mureaux, Eurocopter at Marignane, not forgetting Airbus Military in Seville, Airbus in Toulouse and Hamburg, EADS Defence & Security at Elancourt and Newport, and further sites. On June 11, at the Air and Space Museum in Le Bourget, the “Planète Pilote” project will also be inaugurating a space entirely devoted to children from 6 to 12 years old.

This 10th anniversary of EADS is also that of the 119,000 employees working on more than one hundred sites around the world, who have all contributed to the success of these past ten years and whose work, day after day, contribute to building EADS. After the summer holidays, in September, a range of celebrations is being planned for all employees and their families on their respective sites.

FMI: www.eads.com