• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Excelitas Qioptiq banner

BATTLESPACE Updates

   +44 (0)77689 54766
   

  • Home
  • Features
  • News Updates
  • Company Directory
  • About
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Media Pack 2022

EADS CEO SEES DEFENCE SALES UP BY 66% AND TARGETS UK

June 5, 2003 by

4 Jun 03. Europe’s largest aerospace company, EADS (Paris:EAD.PA – News), expects to boost defence sales by 66 percent in the next three years with Britain a key target for growth, co-chief executive Philippe Camus told reporters in London.

Commercial aircraft unit Airbus SAS has led revenues at European Aeronautic, Defence & Space Co N.V. (EADS) (XETRA:EAD.DE – News) but with airlines struggling, EADS is looking to defence and space activities to
offset slowing growth.

“Our short-term goal is now to grow defence sales from €6bn to €10bn by 2005,” Camus said late on Tuesday.

EADS is set to lead Europe’s long-awaited A400M military air transport programme and is also a major player in the Eurofighter jet programme which aims to begin deliveries to the UK, Germany, Spain and Italy this year.

In the UK, Europe’s largest security and defence market, EADS expects to finalise a deal soon to supply secure, satellite-based communications system for British troops and hopes for other projects as well.

“There are several other programmes of significant size,” Camus said.”It is my vision that in two years some 25 percent or more of our defence backlog will be in the United Kingdom.”

He said success could triple the size of EADS’ UK order book, which he said stood at €5bn.

Camus’ push for sales in the UK comes as Europe looks to mend a split over the Iraq war caused when Britain and the United States took action despite strong opposition from France and Germany, the two countries where EADS has headquarters.

Camus said the long-term nature of defence planning meant the industry did not suffer fallout from temporary political differences.

“Despite recent wobbling in trans-(English) Channel relations, we are confident the MoD (Ministry of Defence) and DPA (Defence Procurement Agency) are firmly committed to real competition,” Camus said.

“Our Airbus business remains strong, even in the depths of one of the worst downturns in commercial aerospace,” Camus said, reiterating that Airbus expects to deliver 300 commercial planes this year, a figure it plans to review in late June or early July.

In the meantime, he said it was important for EADS to look beyond, including to space, an area where it is losing money but one in which EADS is determined to be Europe’s flagbearer.

“Diversity is a major strategic plus for us and this explains our absolute commitment to the space business,” Camus told reporters at a dinner meeting.

As warfare increasingly relies of electronically networked defence systems including the use of satellites, Camus said taking a leading role in the space market was “crucial”.

“Major acquisitions aren’t being targeted by EADS NV at present although opportunities would be considered if they arise”, he continued.

“We have to develop ourselves mainly through internal growth,” Camus told journalists at a briefing in London. “We do not need to make major acquisitions … Obviously, if there are opportunities we will consider them,” he added.

Comment: Although Camus has stated that no acquisitions are planned, sources close to BATTLESPACE suggest that the company may be eyeing the VT Group or SERCO to bolster its service operations. The Thales merger rumours will not go away, this would bolster EADS small electronics segment, earmarked by Stefan Zoller as a key area for development into a €3bn business.

Primary Sidebar

Advertisers

  • qioptiq.com
  • Exensor
  • TCI
  • Visit the Oxley website
  • Visit the Viasat website
  • Blighter
  • SPECTRA
  • InVeris
  • Britbots logo
  • Faun Trackway
  • Systematic
  • CISION logo
  • ProTEK logo
  • businesswire logo
  • ProTEK logo
  • ssafa logo
  • DSEi
  • Atkins
  • IEE
  • EXFOR logo
  • KME logo
Hilux DVD2022

Contact Us

BATTLESPACE Publications
Old Charlock
Abthorpe Road
Silverstone
Towcester NN12 8TW

+44 (0)77689 54766

BATTLESPACE Technologies

An international defence electronics news service providing our readers with up to date developments in the defence electronics industry.

Recent News

  • PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS

    May 19, 2022
    Read more
  • PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS

    May 13, 2022
    Read more
  • EXHIBITIONS AND CONFERENCES

    May 13, 2022
    Read more

Copyright BATTLESPACE Publications © 2002–2022.

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. If you continue to use the website, we'll assume you're ok with this.   Read More  Accept
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT