Airbus Defence and Space
This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages)
|
Parent Airbus | | |
Subsidiaries | CRISA, Spot Image, Tesat-Spacecom |
---|
Airbus Defence and Space is the division of
divisions.Airbus Defence and Space has its main office in Taufkirchen, Germany[8] and is led by chief executive officer Michael Schoellhorn.[1] The company consists of three program lines: Military Air Systems (MiAS), Connected Intelligence (CI) and Space Systems.
With an operational presence in 35 countries, the division employed 134,000 people from 86 nationalities as of 2023[9] and contributed to 21% of Airbus revenues as of 2016[update].[10]
History
Formation of EADS and expansion (1997–2008)
As early as 1995, the German aerospace and defence company
DASA and the Spanish aircraft company CASA agreed to merge on 11 June 1999.[16] On 14 October 1999 DASA agreed to merge with Aérospatiale (which had itself merged with the French conglomerate Matra to become Aérospatiale-Matra earlier that year) to create the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company.[17] 10 July 2000 was "Day One" for the new company, which became the world's second-largest aerospace company after Boeing and the second-largest European arms manufacturer after BAE Systems.[18] In January 2001 Airbus Industries was transformed from an inherently dysfunctional consortium structure to a formal joint stock company, with legal and tax procedures being finalized on 11 July.[19][20]
On 16 June 2003, EADS acquired BAE's 25 % share in
On 1 July 2003, EADS Defence and Security Systems was founded with the merger of the activities of missile systems (LFK), defence electronics, military aircraft and telecommunications of the EADS Group. Tom Enders became the first CEO of the new division.
Airbus Military
The predecessor company was established in January 1999 as the Airbus Military Company SAS to manage the
Astrium
Cassidian
EADS Defence & Security Systems was founded on 1 July 2003. In it, the activities of missile systems (LFK-Lenkflugkörpersysteme GmbH), defence electronics, military aircraft and telecommunications of the EADS Group were merged. On 17 September 2010 the company name was changed to Cassidian, an amalgamation of the Latin words Cassida (helmet) and meridian. It focused on worldwide protection and security. Cassidian was further subdivided into Missiles (missile systems), defence Electronics (defence electronics, such as sensors, electronics and mission avionics), Cassidian Air Systems (production and maintenance of military aircraft) Defence & Communication Systems (defence and Communications Systems) and Services (military service). In 2012 a new division was incorporated as Cassidian Cybersecurity GmbH, headquartered in Ottobrunn.
Post merger (2013–present)
Airbus Defence and Space was formed in 2013 as a result of the merger of Astrium, Cassidian, and the Airbus Military divisions of European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) which was itself reorganized as Airbus.[23] On 1 January 2014, the parent company EADS was restructured as Airbus, comprising three subsidiary companies that include Airbus Defence and Space, Airbus, and Airbus Helicopters.[24]
On 16 September 2014, after a detailed and comprehensive portfolio assessment, Airbus Defence and Space defined Space (Launchers & Satellites), Military Aircraft, Missiles and related Systems and Services as its future core businesses. Some business areas were identified as divestment candidates as they did not fit the strategic goals for the company. Under this plan, the commercial and para-public communication business (including Professional Mobile Radio and commercial satellite communications services activities) was divested. Subsidiaries and J.V. including Fairchild Communications, Rostock System-Technik, AVdef, ESG and Atlas Electronik were divested.
In April 2022, Airbus Defence and Space acquired the German-based cryptography and communication systems company, DSI Datensicherheit GmbH.[28]
Dec 1970 | Jan 1992 | July 2000 | Sep 2000 | Jan 2001 | Dec 2006 | Apr 2009 | Sep 2010 | Jan 2014 | May 2015 | Jan 2017 | Apr 2017 | ||
European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company NV | Airbus Group NV | Airbus Group SE | Airbus SE | ||||||||||
Airbus Industrie GIE | Airbus SAS | ||||||||||||
Airbus Military SAS | Airbus Defence and Space SAS | ||||||||||||
EADS Defence and Security | Cassidian SAS | ||||||||||||
Astrium SAS | EADS Astrium SAS | ||||||||||||
Eurocopter SA | Eurocopter SAS | Airbus Helicopters SAS | |||||||||||
Organization
Airbus defence and Space is structured into four business lines:[citation needed][29]
- Military Aircraft is responsible for aerial refuellingtankers, and airborne warfare systems.
- Global strike
- Mobility
- Surveillance and engagement
- Missiles and unmanned airborne systems
- Space Systems is responsible for Space Stationprogrammes.
- Earth observation
- Navigation
- Strategic missile and defence systems
- Network and tactical systems
- Space and intelligence systems
- Space exploration
- Connected Intelligence is responsible for providing intelligence to various governmental agencies.
- Secure communications solutions for the military, government and institutional players and users
- Airbus Cyber Security
- Airbus DS Communications – a North American public safety company
- Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)
Aircraft
Tankers and transport aircraft
Airbus Defence and Space has created tankers and transport aircraft that are designed for military purposes.
The Airbus
The
The
The
The EADS CASA C-295 is a twin-turboprop tactical military transport aircraft, and is currently manufactured by Airbus Defence and Space in Spain.
Fighter and attack aircraft
Airbus Defence and Space has also created fighter and attack aircraft.
The Eurofighter Typhoon is a twin-engine, canard-delta wing, multirole fighter.[34][35] The Typhoon was designed and is manufactured by a consortium of Alenia Aermacchi, Airbus and BAE Systems that conducts the majority of the project through a joint holding company, Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug GmbH formed in 1986. NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency manages the project and is the prime customer.[36]
Airbus Future Jet Trainer (AFJT), fighter/attack trainer designed to be the future trainer aircraft of the FCAS. [37][38]
Unmanned aerial vehicles
Airbus Defence and Space also manufactures unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Tracker is a short-range mini UAS/UAV with two low noise electric engines. and can be operated by a two-man team. This fully automatic unmanned aircraft can be deployed in all weather conditions, flat terrain, mountainous areas or urban environments.
Barracuda is a multi-sensor system, designed as a demonstrator for test missions such as fast reconnaissance, surveillance, targeting and battle damage assessment, and is used as a testbed for the technologies and procedures for future aerial systems.
European HALE
DVF 2000 VT is a short-range mini UAS/UAV with a low noise electric motor. It is an unmanned aircraft for maritime and land surveillance.
KZO is a tactical UAS with a two-stroke gasoline engine. It is an unmanned aircraft for high-speed reconnaissance missions. The gathered information is immediately available and can quickly be distributed in the command structure.
Harfang is a medium-altitude long-endurance UAS for joint armed forces. It can fulfil a wide range of missions, from surveillance to sensitive peacekeeping. Harfang provides real-time information and can be controlled either manually from the ground control station or autonomously.
ATLANTE is a tactical unmanned aerial system for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions by day and night for ground forces.
In March 2023, Airbus announced the company have achieved in-flight autonomous guidance and control of a drone using an A310 MRTT. The company stated the aim of the technology is to achieve Autonomous Air-to-Air refueling (A4R) and Autonomous Formation Flight for the development of future aerial operations for both manned and unmanned assets.[40]
Experimental aircraft
Airbus Defence and Space has a series of experimental aircraft called
Ballistic missiles
In May 2016, Airbus and Safran agreed that their joint venture would work on upgrading the M51 submarine-launched ballistic missile to the M51.3 standard for the French Navy.[44]
Space systems
Launchers
International Space Station
Columbus is a science laboratory that is part of the International Space Station (ISS) and is the largest single contribution to the ISS made by the European Space Agency (ESA). The functional architecture (including software) of the lab was designed by Airbus Defence and Space in Bremen, Germany where it was also integrated before being flown to the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida in an Airbus Beluga. It was launched aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis on 7 February 2008 on flight STS-122.
Space transportation
The Orion service module is the service module component of the Orion spacecraft, serving as its primary power and propulsion component until it is discarded at the end of each mission. In January 2013, NASA announced that the European Space Agency (ESA) will construct the service module for Artemis 1, replacing the previous design. Based on ESA's Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV), the new design is also known as the European service module (ESM). The service module supports the crew module from launch through separation prior to reentry. It provides in-space propulsion capability for orbital transfer, attitude control, and high-altitude ascent aborts. It provides the water and oxygen needed for a habitable environment, generates and stores electrical power, and maintains the temperature of the vehicle's systems and components. This module can also transport unpressurized cargo and scientific payloads.
Astronomy and cosmology missions
Solar observation missions
Solar Orbiter (SolO) is a Sun-observing satellite, developed by the European Space Agency (ESA). The mission was launched with an Atlas V from the Cape Canaveral AFS in Florida at 5:03 Central European Time (CET) on 10 February 2020.[53] SolO is intended to perform detailed measurements of the inner heliosphere and nascent solar wind, and perform close observations of the polar regions of the Sun, which is difficult to do from Earth, both serving to answer the question 'How does the Sun create and control the heliosphere?' The Solar Orbiter will make observations of the Sun from an eccentric orbit moving as close as ~60 solar radii (RS), or 0.284 astronomical units (AU), placing it inside Mercury's perihelion of 0.3075 AU and providing it with the closest ever views of the Sun.[54]
Planetary science missions
The
BepiColombo is a joint mission of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace eXploration Agency (JAXA) to the planet Mercury.[60] The mission comprises two satellites which were launched together: the Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) and the Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (MMO). The mission will perform a comprehensive study on Mercury, including its magnetic field, magnetosphere, interior structure and surface. The launch on an Ariane 5 took place on 20 October 2018.[61] The mission was approved in February 2007 as part of the Cosmic Vision programme.
Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) is a planned European Space Agency (ESA) spacecraft designed by Airbus Defence and Space to visit the Jovian system, focused on studying three of Jupiter's Galilean moons: Ganymede, Callisto, and Europa (excluding the more volcanically active Io).[62] It will characterize these three worlds, all of which are thought to have significant bodies of liquid water beneath their surfaces, making them potentially habitable environments. The selection of this mission for the L1 launch slot of ESA's Cosmic Vision science programme was announced on 2 May 2012.[63]
Venus Express was the first Venus exploration mission of the European Space Agency (ESA). Launched in November 2005, it arrived at Venus in April 2006 and began continuously sending back science data from its polar orbit around Venus. Equipped with seven scientific instruments, the main objective of the mission was the long-term observation of the Venusian atmosphere. The observation over such long periods of time had never been done in previous missions to Venus and was key to a better understanding of the atmospheric dynamics.
Mars Express is a space exploration mission being conducted by the European Space Agency (ESA). The Mars Express mission is exploring the planet Mars and is the first planetary mission attempted by the agency.
Earth observation satellites
Airbus Defence and Space is the world's largest supplier of Earth observation systems with more than fifty satellites launched and 18 more under construction.[68][69] The following are some of their artificial satellites
- TerraSAR-X NG: A next-generation development based on the TerraSAR-X mission.
- AstroBus-L: A platform suited for high-performance Earth observation satellites such as the Pleiades Twin satellites and the SPOTsatellite system.
- Xpress: Low-cost synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite system particularly suitable for surveillance applications in a constellation concept.
- AstroBus-S: Earth observation satellites for very-high-resolution (VHR) applications.
- AstroBus-XS: Modernized and enhanced version of the very successful Myriade-based satellite family.
Some of the major satellite systems built are:
.Telecommunication satellites
Airbus Defence and Space has manufactured over a hundred communications satellites.[71]
Eurostar: Used for a series of spacecraft providing telecommunications services in geosynchronous orbit (GEO). More than 70 Eurostar satellites have been ordered to date, of which more than 55 have been successfully launched since October 1990 and have proven highly reliable in operational service. In December 2013, the Eurostar satellites accumulated 500 years of successful operations in orbit.[72] The Eurostar spacecraft series is designed for a variety of telecommunications needs, including fixed services and broadcast, mobile services, broadband and secured communications.
Some of the major telecommunication satellites built are: Alphabus, the Eutelsat series, the Astra series, the Hispasat series, the Inmarsat series, and the UK military Skynet series.
Spaceplane
Rocket engines
Airbus Defence and Space also produces commercial versions of its proprietary
One Atlas
Airbus Defence and Space launched One Atlas in October 2016, a new satellite image basemap which covers the earth landmasses with imagery.[75][76] The images available via Google Drive can be accessed around the clock and are refreshed within a 12-month period. One Atlas was developed for defence or security missions and operations, for example assisting the mapping, reporting and updating of positions, movements or risk areas, but also providing intelligence when selecting transportation routes and access points.
Starlab joint venture
On 9 January 2024 Airbus Defence and Space announced the formation of Starlab Space LLC, a joint venture with Voyager Space to design, construct and operate the
Sites
Major European Airbus Defence and Space sites are located in the following places:[78]
- France:
- Germany: Manching, Friedrichshafen, Ottobrunn/Taufkirchen, Bremen and Immenstaad am Bodensee
- Spain: Sevilla
- United Kingdom: Newport, Portsmouth and Stevenage
- Italy: Rome and Potenza
- Netherlands: Leiden
- South Africa: Irene
In September 2022, it was announced that Airbus Defence and Space would be setting up a research facility at Lot Fourteen, Adelaide, South Australia, in October, which would be responsible for developing new satellites for the Australian Defence Force.[79]
See also
- Boeing defence, Space & Security
- Lockheed Martin Space Systems
- Northrop Grumman
- Raytheon
- Thales Alenia Space
References
- ^ a b "Executive and operational committees", Airbus
- ^ Airbus reports Full-Year (FY) 2022 results (PDF). Airbus. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
- ^ Airbus reports Full-Year (FY) 2022 results (PDF). Airbus. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
- ^ Airbus Group SE Financial Statements 2016 (PDF). Airbus. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 July 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
- ^ Overview, Airbus DS. "About Airbus Defence and Space". Airbus Defence and Space. Archived from the original on 7 August 2015. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
- ^ Parker, Andrew (2 January 2014). "EADS changes name to Airbus". FT.com. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
- ^ "Airbus Defence and Space-built PeruSAT-1 delivers first images". Space Daily. 12 October 2016.
- ^ "Airbus Defence and Space GmbH - Bayern International – Exportförderung für bayerische Unternehmen". www.bayern-international.de (in German). Retrieved 29 April 2022.
- ^ "Airbus Defence and Space Global presence". ADS. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
- ^ "Investors & Shareholders". airbusgroup.com. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
- ^ Jones, Adam (20 January 1999). "Europe cries foul as New BAe emerges". The Times.
- ^ Sparaco, Pierre; Morrocco, John D. (30 June 1997). "French Government Grapples With Aerospace Strategy". Aviation Week and Space Technology. The McGraw-Hill Companies.
- ^ "BBC News - The Company File - Defence merger on the radar". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
- ^ BAE Systems Annual Report 1999 22. BAE Systems plc (2000). Retrieved on 2006-10-27.
- ^ Turpin, Andrew (4 March 2000). "BAE eyes US targets after profit rockets". The Scotsman. p. 26.
- ^ White, David; Nicoll, Alexander (12 June 1999). "DaimlerChrysler wins fight for Spain's Casa: Deal boosts aerospace industry consolidation in Europe". Financial Times.
- ^ Nicoll, Alexander; Skapiner, Michael (15 October 1999). "Flying in formation: The merger of DaimlerChrysler Aerospace and Aérospatiale-Matra may pave the way for a larger European grouping or the first transatlantic defence tie-up, argue Alexander Nicoll and Michael Skapinker". Financial Times.
- ^ "History of EADS". EADS. Archived from the original on 3 June 2008. Retrieved 7 October 2009.
- ^ "EADS and BAE SYSTEMS complete Airbus integration – Airbus SAS formally established" (Press release). BAE Systems plc. 12 July 2001. Archived from the original on 20 October 2007. Retrieved 4 October 2007.
- ^ Sparaco, Pierre (19 March 2001). "Climate conducive for Airbus consolidation". Aviation Week & Space Technology.
- ^ Odell, Mark (1 February 2003). "BAE agrees new deal for Astrium". Financial Times. p. 15.
- ^ Being Part of aMuch Bigger World Archived 2014-01-09 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "EADS Announces Name Change, Restructuring | Defense News". Defensenews.com. 31 July 2013. Archived from the original on 31 July 2013. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
- ^ "What we do". Airbus. 2015. Archived from the original on 6 February 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
- ^ DS, Airbus. "Airbus Defence and Space continues transformation with portfolio optimisation". Airbus Defence and Space. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
- ^ DS, Airbus. "Airbus Group To Sell Defence Electronics To KKR for € 1.1bn". Airbus Defence and Space. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
- ^ "Airbus Plans Internal Merger in Latest Corporate Shake-Up". Fortune. Reuters. 30 September 2016. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
- ^ Jordan, Josh. "Airbus to acquire DSI Datensicherheit, a leading European provider of Cryptography systems for space applications". Retrieved 9 April 2022.
- ^ Flores, Myrna; Ordóñez, María E.; Flores, Karina; Tucci, Christopher; Navarro, Jesús; Pascual, Silvia; Muñoz, David (22 October 2023). "Airbus Defense & Space" (PDF). Lean Analytics Association. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 October 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
- ^ Hardiman, Jake; Karuwa, Tatenda (29 November 2020). "A Look At The Airbus A330 MRTT: The Military Version Of The A330-200". Simple Flying. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
- ^ "A400M naming ceremony at RIAT." Archived 2013-12-17 at the Wayback Machine Airbus Military, 6 July 2012. Retrieved: 6 July 2012.
- ^ Hoyle, Craig. "RIAT: A400M reborn as 'Atlas'." Flightglobal 6 July 2012. Retrieved: 6 July 2012.
- ^ "RAF – A400m." Archived 2009-04-30 at the Wayback Machine RAF, MOD. Retrieved: 15 May 2010.
- ^ "Benefits to Industry". eurofighter.com. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
- ^ "Overview". eurofighter.com. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
- ^ "Eurofighter and NETMA Strike Logistics Deal". Jane's International Defence Review. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
- ^ "Airbus Looks to Create New Jet Trainer for Spanish Air Force". Aviation Today. 26 October 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
- DefenseNews. 19 October 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
- ^ "RQ-4 Euro Hawk UAV Readying for Takeoff". Defense Industry Daily. 15 May 2013.
- ^ "Airbus achieves in-flight autonomous guidance and control of a drone from a tanker aircraft". www.airbus.com. 28 March 2023. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
- ^ Amos, Jonathan (24 June 2003). "Strato-plane looks forward". BBC News. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
British engineers are preparing to push the limits of aeroplane technology
- ^ "First flight of Astrium's Zephyr solar HAPS". Airbus. Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
- ^ "Zephyr - The first stratospheric UAS of its kind". www.airbus.com. 7 November 2022. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
- ^ Pierre Tran (10 May 2016). "Airbus and Safran Agree to Space Launcher Joint Venture". defensenews.com. Archived from the original on 15 January 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
- ^ Bergin, Chris (15 February 2011). "Ariane 5 launches ATV-2 for journey to the ISS". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
- ^ "Intelsat Pair lifted into Orbit in Record-Setting Ariane 5 Launch". Spaceflight 101. 24 August 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
- ESA. 15 June 2015. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
- ESA. Archived from the original(PDF) on 22 March 2007. Retrieved 26 March 2007.
- ^ "Call for Media: LISA Pathfinder launch". ESA. 23 November 2015.
- ^ "News: Top News | eLISA Gravitational Wave Observatory". Archived from the original on 19 April 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
- ESA. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
- .
- ^ "Liftoff for Solar Orbiter, ESA's mission to face the Sun up close". European Space Agency. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
- ^ KIS – Solar Orbiter
- ^ Vago, Jorge; Witasse, Olivier; Baglioni, Pietro; Haldemann, Albert; Gianfiglio, Giacinto; et al. (August 2013). "ExoMars: ESA's Next Step in Mars Exploration" (PDF). Bulletin (155). European Space Agency: 12–23.
- ^ Katz, Gregory (27 March 2014). "2018 mission: Mars rover prototype unveiled in UK". Excite.com. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
- ^ "Russia and Europe Team Up for Mars Missions". Space.com. 14 March 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
- ^ de Selding, Peter B. (26 September 2012). "U.S., Europe Won't Go It Alone in Mars Exploration". Space News. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
- ^ "Second EXOMARS Mission moves to next launch opportunity in 2020". ESA.
- ^ Amos, Jonathan (18 January 2008). "European probe aims for Mercury" (web). The European Space Agency (Esa) has signed an industrial contract to build a probe to send to the planet Mercury. BBC News. Retrieved 21 January 2008.
- ^ "ESA PR 28-2018: BepiColombo blasts off to investigate Mercury's mysteries". ESA. 20 October 2018. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
- ^ "ESA—Selection of the L1 mission" (PDF). 17 April 2012.
- ^ "Esa selects 1bn-euro Juice probe to Jupiter". Jonathan Amos. BBC News Online. 2 May 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
- ^ Agle, D. C.; Brown, Dwayne; Bauer, Markus (30 June 2014). "Rosetta's Comet Target 'Releases' Plentiful Water". NASA. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
- ^ Chang, Kenneth (5 August 2014). "Rosetta Spacecraft Set for Unprecedented Close Study of a Comet". The New York Times. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
- ^ Bibring, Jean-Pierre; Schwehm, Gerhard (25 February 2007). "Stunning view of Rosetta skimming past Mars". European Space Agency. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
- .
- ^ "Earth Observation Satellites". Airbus Defence and Space. Archived from the original on 30 October 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
- ^ "Earth Observation Satellites". Airbus Defence and Space. Archived from the original on 30 October 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
- ^ EarthNet Online
- ^ "Telecommunications". Airbus Defence and Space. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
- ^ Astrium celebrates 500 years of successful Eurostar satellite operation in orbit, UKspace, 27.12.2013 [1]
- ^ "Elon Musk's First Astronaut Launch". Forbes. 25 May 2020. Retrieved 14 June 2007.
- ^ "Rocket Launcher Propulsion – Ottobrunn, Germany". Archived from the original on 18 September 2015. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
- ^ Patil, Vishwanath. "Airbus Launches Satellite Image Library for Defence, Intelligence and Security Applications". Defense World. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
- ^ Cell, Technology. "Airbus Defence and Space Launches "One Atlas" Satellite Image Library for Agricultural Applications". Africa Agri Business. Archived from the original on 30 October 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
- ^ Foust, Jeff (16 January 2024). "Airbus and Voyager finalize Starlab joint venture".
- ^ "AirBus Worldwide Presence". www.airbus.com. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
- InDaily. Retrieved 27 September 2022.