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.