Airbus SE manufactures commercial aircraft, civil helicopters, commercial space launch vehicles, missiles, military aircraft, satellites, defence systems, and defence electronics, and services related to these activities.
Divisions
The company operates in five divisions: Airbus, Airbus Military, Astrium, Eurocopter, and Defence and Security.
AIRBUS
This segment engages in the development, manufacture, marketing, and sale of commercial jet aircraft of approximately 100 seats and the developme...
Airbus SE manufactures commercial aircraft, civil helicopters, commercial space launch vehicles, missiles, military aircraft, satellites, defence systems, and defence electronics, and services related to these activities.
Divisions
The company operates in five divisions: Airbus, Airbus Military, Astrium, Eurocopter, and Defence and Security.
AIRBUS
This segment engages in the development, manufacture, marketing, and sale of commercial jet aircraft of approximately 100 seats and the development and manufacturing of aircraft for military use.
Customers: This segment’s major customers include CASGC, DAE Capital, AWAS, Etihad, TAM, Gulf Air, Air One, Vietnam Airlines, CIT, and Asiana.
Competition: This segment’s competitors include Airbus and Boeing. Airbus also competes in the corporate, VIP business jet market with the ACJ, an A319-based Corporate Jetliner, and the A318 Elite.
AIRBUS MILITARY
Airbus Military produces and sells special mission aircraft, which are derived from existing aircraft platforms and are dedicated to specialized military and security tasks such as in-flight refueling capabilities, maritime surveillance and antisubmarine warfare. Airbus Military also manufactures and sells medium and light military transport aircraft and is responsible for the European heavy military transport A400M project.
Products and Services
Special Mission Aircraft
Strategic Tanker Aircraft — A330 MRTT: The A330 MRTT, a derivative of the successful Airbus A330/A340 family, is the air-to-air refuelling aircraft. Airbus Military has contracts for the A330 MRTT with the governments of Australia, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which have ordered five, three and three aircraft, respectively.
Maritime Patrol Aircraft: Airbus Military provides different solutions ranging from maritime surveillance to anti-submarine warfare missions through aircraft based on the C-212, CN-235, C-295 or P-3 Orion platforms.
Military Transport Aircraft
Airbus A400M: The A400M is designed to meet the aircraft requirements of seven European nations seeking to replace their ageing C-130 Hercules and C-160 Transall fleets.
CN-235 — Medium Military Transport: The CN-235-300 is capable of transporting a payload of up to 6,000 kg, accommodating 36 paratroopers, 18 stretchers plus three medical attendants, four of the used types of freight pallets, or oversized loads, such as aircraft engines or helicopter blades.
C-295 — Medium Military Transport: The C-295 is equipped with integrated avionics incorporating digital cockpit displays and a flight management system, enabling tactical navigation, planning and the integration of signals from several sensors.
In 2008, Airbus Military signed a contract with Botswana for the supply of one CN-235 aircraft and with the U.S. Company L3 for two.
Competition: This segment’s competitors include the C-27J Spartan, manufactured by the joint venture LMATTS (Lockheed Martin Alenia Tactical Transport System), and the An-32, manufactured by Antonov. It also competes with the M-28, manufactured by Polskie Zaklady Lotnice, Mielec and the Do-228 manufactured by HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited).
EUROCOPTER
This segment engages in the development, manufacture, marketing, and sale of civil and military helicopters and provision of maintenance services. Eurocopter offers a range of helicopters that covers civil and military market spectrum, which it updates continuously with leading-edge technologies. This product range includes light single-engine, light twin-engine, medium and medium-heavy helicopters, and is based on a series of new-generation platforms designed to be adaptable to both military and civil applications.
Customers: Eurocopter’s principal military clients are European Ministries of Defence (MoDs), as well as MoDs in Asia and the U.S.
Competition: Eurocopter’s main competitors in this segment are Agusta- Westland in Europe, and in the United States Bell Helicopter (a division of Textron Inc.), Boeing and Sikorsky. Eurocopter’s main worldwide civil competitors are Bell Helicopter, Agusta-Westland and Sikorsky.
DEFENCE AND SECURITY
This segment engages in the development, manufacture, marketing, and sale of missiles systems, military combat aircraft and training aircraft; provision of defence electronics and defence-related telecommunications solutions and logistics; training, testing, engineering and other related services.
DEFENCE AND COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS (DCS)
DCS offers communication and information system solutions (including platforms) and provides the means for their implementation. DCS offers solutions, including the ability to design, develop and implement Lead Systems Integration (LSI) and link the widest possible range of individual platforms and subsystems into a single effective network.
Products and Services
Defence: DCS offers mission systems and solutions in the areas of air dominance, battle space systems, intelligence solutions and naval systems, as well as overall systems support. It provides full systems design architecture and systems integration responsibility for military land-, sea-, air- and space-based systems. DCS delivers airspace dominance systems for defensive, offensive and support operations in a combined, joint environment, thereby realizing flexible, network enabled capabilities. DCS designs, integrates and implements secure fixed, tactical, theatre and mobile information infrastructure solutions, including all of the services needed to support integrated mission systems and solutions. DCS is also a major designer and supplier of C3I systems to the armed forces in France and Germany, and the Joint Staffs in France, Germany and NATO.
The business unit is focused on customers’ need for information infrastructure solutions. Its expertise includes a detailed understanding of the technology necessary to achieve this, including interfaces, gateways and the use of open system architectures.
Global security: DCS provides global security solutions and services in the areas of border security, maritime security, crisis and emergency management, critical infrastructure protection and large event protection, such as the Asian Games in Qatar.
APSYS: Safety Engineering
APSYS is a DS division subsidiary and is managed by the DCS business unit. It offers consulting, training and studies services in technical risk management. It also offers software quality insurance, communication systems security, 3D phenomena modeling and transportation scheme performance analysis.
Dornier Consulting GmbH
Dornier Consulting GmbH is a DS division subsidiary and is managed by the DCS business unit. Dornier Consulting is a company for future-oriented transportation and technology consulting with a focus on traffic, transportation and logistic concepts, system specification and integration, modern technologies for the management of natural resources, as well as professional full-service project management. It is an independent consulting and engineering company with clients in the public and private sector in Germany, Central and Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Middle East. Major clients include national and international institutions (World Bank, UNDP, EU, KfW, GTZ), governments, authorities, the German Railways (Deutsche Bundesbahn), Daimler and EADS, as well as various private companies.
Sofrelog
Sofrelog is a DS division subsidiary and is managed by the DCS business unit. Sofrelog provides integrated mission critical real-time systems using radar and other wide area sensors, mostly for maritime applications, typically vessel traffic services and costal surveillance.
ATLAS ELEKTRONIK
ATLAS ELEKTRONIK GmbH is a joint venture of ThyssenKrupp and EADS. ATLAS ELEKTRONIK has orders for the command and weapon control system as well as the tactical data link for the new German frigate F125, the delivery of submarine command systems for the Indian Navy, orders by the Finnish Navy in the field of mine hunting and orders by international customers within the sector of maritime safety and security.
DEFENCE ELECTRONICS (DE)
DE provides mission-critical elements for data gathering, data processing and distribution for defense and civil security systems. Its business is based on high-end security electronic equipment and subsystems addressing the market for surveillance and reconnaissance, military mission management, protection of own forces and critical infrastructures, as well as testing systems and services.
Electronic Warfare and Self Defence: DE supplies electronic self-protection systems for aircraft, ships and armoured vehicles, such as laser warning, missile warning and active electronic countermeasure units, including directed infrared countermeasures, self-protection jammers and towed decoys. It has subsystem responsibility for the A400M’s self-protection system, also supplying core EW equipment such as the infrared missile warning system MIRAS. For military mission aircraft, helicopters (NH90, Tiger) and VIP aircraft, DE is developing solutions to counter threats posed by infrared-guided missiles in particular.
Avionics: As a major partner in the field of military mission avionics for the A400M, DE assumes subsystem responsibility for mission management and defensive aids. The DE portfolio also comprises avionics equipment, such as digital map units (EuroGrid), flight data recording units and obstacle warning systems for helicopters. In addition, DE is developing multisensor integration and data fusion technology.
Sensors: DE is a principal partner in the development of airborne multi-mode radars such as the Captor radar in the Eurofighter programme, and also provides integrated logistics support, maintenance and upgrades. DE is also involved in the technological development and application of next-generation active electronically scanning (AESA) radars for air, naval and ground applications. In the area of air defense, DE produces mid-range radars for ship (TRS-3D) and land (TRML-3D) applications.
Test and Services: The Test and Services product range covers the entire life cycle of equipment and systems and includes solutions that rely on test services and systems.
MILITARY AIR SYSTEMS (MAS)
The MAS business unit specializes in the field of combat air systems — in particular development, production and delivery of the Eurofighter combat aircraft. In addition, MAS produces and tests mission air systems, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). MAS offers corresponding product support, including maintenance, repair and overhaul, modernization, logistics optimization, product-specific training and integrated system support centers. In 2008, MAS finalized the centralization of all German business activities relating to military air systems at a single site in Manching. MAS offers its customers a suite of services associated with operating their military air systems, including maintenance, repair and overhaul, modernization, logistics optimization, product-specific training and integrated system support centers.
MISSILE SYSTEMS
MBDA, a joint venture between EADS, BAE Systems and Finmecannica, is the missile systems group within the DS division. MBDA offers missile systems and covers a range of solutions for air superiority, land control and sea power missions. The range of MBDA products covers all six principal missile system categories: air-to-air, air-to-surface, ground-to-air, surface-to-air, anti-ship and surface-to-surface. MBDA’s product range also includes a portfolio of airborne countermeasures such as missile warning and decoying systems and decoy dispensers, airborne combat training and countermining systems.
Competition: DCS faces competition from Lockheed Martin, Thales, Motorola and General Dynamics. DE’s main competitors in defence electronics are Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, Thales, BAE Systems, Galileo Avionica, Indra and Saab.
Customers: Key customers primarily include governmental customers, such as MoDs and Ministries of Interior in its home markets of France, Germany and the U.K. DE’s key customers include MoDs, interior ministries, military services, security forces, the in-house EADS systems suppliers and other LSI’s worldwide. Through various joint ventures, participations and partnerships, DE has access to customers in every NATO country, in particular in Germany, France, the U.K., Spain and Italy, and to important export markets, such as the US, Turkey, India and South Africa.
ASTRIUM
This segment engages in the development, manufacture, marketing, and sale of satellites, orbital infrastructures and launchers and provision of space services. Astrium has three main business units: Astrium Satellites, Astrium Space Transportation and Astrium Services. Astrium has three main business units: Astrium Satellites, Astrium Space Transportation and Astrium Services. These include the provision of launch services through Astrium’s interest in Arianespace (Ariane 5 launcher), Starsem (Soyuz launcher) and Eurockot (Rockot launcher), as well as services related to telecommunications and Earth observation satellites through wholly or majority owned subsidiaries, such as Paradigm Secure Communications, Infoterra and Spot Image.
Astrium Satellites
Astrium Satellites engages in the design and manufacture of satellite systems, payloads, ground infrastructure and space equipment for a range of civil and military applications. Astrium Satellites’ business covers the four categories of satellite systems: telecommunications satellites, which have multiple applications, such as long-distance and mobile telephone links, television and radio broadcasting, data transmission, multimedia and Internet trunking; observation satellites, which allow the collection of information for various fields, such as cartography, weather forecasting, climate monitoring, agricultural and forestry management, mineral, energy and water resource management and military surveillance applications; scientific satellites, which are tailor-made products adapted to the specific requirements of the mission assigned to them; and navigation satellite systems, which deliver signals that enable users to determine their geographic position in many sectors of commercial activity, such as airlines, transport operators on land, sea and air, emergency services, agriculture and fisheries, tourism and telecommunications networks.
Competition: This segment’s competitors include Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Loral of the United States and Thales Alenia Space (TAS) of France and Italy.
Astrium offers satellite systems to its customers through wholly owned subsidiaries, such as Astrium Spain, which supplies platforms, space-borne antennas, deployment mechanisms and harness subsystems for telecommunication satellites; Tesat (Germany), which is in charge of telecommunication electronic equipment and subsystems; EADS Sodern (France), which provides satellites sensors; and Dutch Space (Netherlands), which provides solar arrays and other specialized items.
Telecommunications Satellites: Astrium Satellites produces telecommunication satellites for fixed and mobile applications and direct-to-home broadcast services.
Observation and Science Satellites: Astrium Satellites is the European supplier of Earth observation satellite systems for both civil and military applications.
Astrium Satellites designs and manufactures a range of platforms, optical and radar instruments, and ground segment equipment for the scope of remotesensing applications, operations and services. Astrium Satellites is the prime contractor for many of ESA’s and French Space Agency’s (CNES) principal observation programs.
Astrium Space Transportation
Astrium Space Transportation is the European space infrastructure and space transportation specialist. It designs, develops, and produces Ariane 5 launchers, the Columbus laboratory and the ATV cargo carrier for the International Space Station (ISS), ballistic missiles for France’s deterrence forces, propulsion systems and space equipment.
Orbital Infrastructure
The orbital infrastructure segment in which Astrium Space Transportation operates comprises manned and unmanned space systems. The ISS, together with related vehicle and equipment development programs and services, constitutes the predominant field of activity in this segment. Astrium Space Transportation is the prime contractor under an ESA contract relating to two key elements of the ISS: the Columbus Orbital Facility laboratory (COF) and the ATV cargo carrier.
Astrium Space Transportation is the prime contractor for the development and integration of the COF. The COF is a pressurised module with an independent life-support system. It provides a full-scale research environment under microgravity conditions (material science, medicine, human physiology, biology, Earth observation, fluid physics and astronomy) and serves as a test-bed for new technologies.
Astrium Space Transportation is also the prime contractor for the development and construction of the ATV, designed to carry fuel and supplies to the ISS and to provide reboost capability and a waste disposal solution.
Launchers and Launch Services
Space systems (including satellites, orbital infrastructure elements and interplanetary probes) depend on rocket propelled multi-stage launchers, which are consumed during the launch process, to place them into orbit. Astrium Space Transportation is active in two distinct businesses: designing and manufacturing launchers for both civil and military purposes; and providing launch services through its interests in Arianespace, Starsem and Eurockot.
Astrium Space Transportation is the sole prime contractor for the Ariane 5 system, with responsibility for the delivery to Arianespace of a complete and fully tested vehicle. Astrium Space Transportation also supplies all Ariane 5 stages, the equipment bay, the flight software, as well as numerous subassemblies. Additionally, Astrium Space Transportation is the prime contractor for ballistic missile systems to the French State. It is responsible for the development, manufacturing and maintenance of the M45 and M51 submarine-launched missiles and related operating systems.
Launch Services: Astrium Space Transportation is active in the field of launch services through its shareholdings in Arianespace (for heavy-lift launchers), Starsem (for medium-lift launchers) and Eurockot (for small-lift launchers).
Arianespace: As of December 31, 2008, Ariane had launched a 265 satellites. Arianespace markets and sells the Ariane launcher worldwide and carries out launches from the Kourou space centre in French Guyana.
Starsem: Astrium Space Transportation directly owns 35% of Starsem, a French corporation, along with Arianespace, the Russian space agency, and the Russian state-owned Central Specialised Design Bureau Progress. Through Arianespace, Starsem markets launch services by Soyuz launchers for medium-weight spacecrafts into low or sunsynchronous orbits, as well as for interplanetary missions.
Eurockot: Astrium Space Transportation (51%) and Khrunichev (49%) jointly control Eurockot Launch Services, which provides launch services for small, low-Earth orbit satellites with Rockot launchers derived from SS-19 ballistic missiles.
Commercial Launchers: Astrium Space Transportation manufactures launchers and performs research and development for the Ariane programmes.
Ballistic Missiles: Astrium Space Transportation designs, manufactures, tests and maintains ballistic missiles in Europe. Under its contracts with the French State, Astrium Space Transportation has produced the submarine launched MSBS family (M1, M2, M20, M4 and M45) and developed the launch facilities at the Brest naval base. Astrium Space Transportation manages the operational maintenance of the M45 missile system, assisting the French armed forces until the end of its operational service. Astrium Space Transportation is also under contract to develop the M51, a new submarine-based strategic missile system.
ASTRIUM SERVICES
Astrium Services offers solutions in the fields of secure communications and satellite navigation. It provides military satellite communications services, Astrium Services delivers secure military satellite services to various countries.
Military Communications: In 2003, the U.K. MoD selected Paradigm to deliver a global military satellite communications service for its Skynet 5 programme. Offering a catalogue of services, Paradigm delivers tailored in-theatre and back-to-base communication solutions for voice, data and video services, ranging from a single voice channel to a system incorporating terminals and network management. Paradigm also provides welfare services, ensuring that deployed troops can call home and can use the Internet.
Earth Observation Services: Infoterra provides geoinformation products and services to customers, including international corporations, governments and authorities around the world.
Other Businesses
The company’s other businesses comprises the development, manufacturing, marketing and sale of regional turboprop aircraft, light commercial aircraft and aircraft components, as well as civil and military aircraft conversion and maintenance services.
REGIONAL AIRCRAFT — ATR
ATR (Avions de Transport Régional) engages in the market for regional turboprop aircraft of 40 to 74 seats.
AEROSTRUCTURES, AIRCRAFT CONVERSION AND FLOOR PANELS
EADS Sogerma: EADS Sogerma is specialized in aero structures and cabin interior activities. The company designs and manufactures major aero structure elements in metal and composite for commercial and military aircraft and is also a provider of cockpit and passenger seats (first and business class) for commercial and military aircraft, as well as for business jets and helicopters.
In the aerostructures field, EADS Sogerma engages in the design, manufacturing and assembly of Airbus aircraft sections (A318/A320/A330/A340), manufacturing and assembly of ATR wings, design and manufacturing of the A400M ramp door, as well as design and manufacturing of pilot and co-pilot seats. In the cabin interior segment, EADS Sogerma designs and manufactures first and business class seats for Airbus and Boeing platforms.
EADS Elbe Flugzeugwerke GmbH — EFW: EFW has two main business activities: the conversion of commercial passenger aircraft into freighters and the production of flat sandwich aerostructures for all Airbus models. In the aerostructures field, EFW is the supplier of fibre reinforced flat sandwich panels for all Airbus models. Its product range covers floor and ceiling panels, cargo linings and bullet-proof cockpit doors. EFW’s engineering department is a certified design organization that works to develop future products.
Aerolia: Aerolia is a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS. Aerolia engages in the design and manufacture of detail parts and work packages of the Airbus nose fuselage. The company comprises four operational directorates (Engineering, Operations, Procurement, Programmes & Commercial) and four support directorates (Quality, Finances, Human Resources, Strategy & Communications), privileging proximity with its customers and in-house teams.
The activities integrated in Aerolia maintain and develop commercial and industrial relations mainly with Airbus, while continuing to develop relations with others, such as Bombardier, ATR, Latecoere, Sonaca, Sogerma, Stork Fokker, Piaggio, SAAB and SABCA.
Premium AEROTEC: Premium AEROTEC is a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS. It focuses on the design and manufacturing of metal and CFRP (carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic) aerostructures and related manufacturing systems. Premium AEROTEC is a partner in European aircraft development programmes, such as the commercial Airbus aircraft families, the A400M military transport aircraft programme and the Eurofighter Typhoon.
Investments
DASSAULT AVIATION: EADS holds a 46.3% stake in Dassault Aviation. Dassault Aviation designs, develops and produces a range of military aircraft and business jets.
Military Jet Aircraft: Dassault Aviation offers expertise in the design and manufacture of the military combat aircraft.
Rafale: The Rafale is a twin-engine, omni-role combat aircraft developed for both Air Force and Navy applications.
nEUROn: Dassault Aviation is the prime contractor for the development of the UCAV (Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle) demonstrator, nEUROn.
Business Jets: Dassault Aviation offers a range of products at the top end of the business jet sector. In-service Falcons operate in approximately 65 countries worldwide, filling corporate, VIP and government transportation roles. The family of Falcon jets includes four tri-jets: the Falcon 50EX, 900C, 900EX and 7X, the twin-engine Falcon 2000 and the Falcon 2000EX EASy.
SOCATA: In January 2009, EADS sold a 70% stake in Socata to Daher. Socata is a general aviation manufacturer. Products include the TBM 850 family of turboprop aircraft and aerostructure development for Airbus civil airliners, the A400M military transporter, Dassault Falcon jets, Eurocopter helicopters and Embraer regional jets.
Significant Events
On October 6, 2009, EADS and Eurocopter signed a cooperation agreement with the sovereign wealth fund SAMRUK-KAZYNA to create a public-private joint venture in Kazakhstan to develop helicopter activities. The project, which includes both European and Kazakh partners, was launched as part of the strategic partnership agreement signed between France and Kazakhstan.
History
The company was formerly known as Airbus Group N.V. and changed its name to Airbus Group SE in 2015. Further, the company changed its name to Airbus SE in April 2017.
