Acquisition BAE Systems has stretched its lead as Europe's leading player in the US defence market by agreeing to buy United Defense Industries (UDI) – maker of Bradley armoured vehicles – for $4.1 billion. The acquisition – the UK's company's largest ever – will make BAE the US Department of Defense's sixth-biggest contractor and the DoD BAE's main customer. It also swings BAE's business more towards land systems, a burgeoning market because of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan: the company will become number two behind General Dynamics. Chief executive Mike Turner says the company "still has a list of acquisition candidates in the USA".
Source: Flight International