Division seeks to become preferred supplier within European giant for all radar and electronic warfare equipment
EADS Defence Electronics is aiming to become the electronic warfare equipment supplier for all EADS platforms and grow its export sales to non-US customers.
The systems businesses of EADS heritage companies were consolidated into the new business unit last year under the Defence and Security Systems division. Bernhard Gerwert, chief executive of EADS Defence Electronics, says the goal is to be "preferred supplier within EADS for all radar and electronic warfare equipment".
The unit, based in Ulm, Germany, and occupying nine other sites in France, Belgium and the USA, also aims to build up its software business, based on its level 1 supplier status for mission control systems for the Airbus Military A400M transport. Gerwert says it aims to derive 50% of revenues from EADS platform-related sales, with the other 50% coming from applications on other manufacturers' platforms. The unit also wants to break into export markets from which US competitors are excluded – explicitly or otherwise – for political reasons, he says.
EADS says: "More than half the value of all new platforms is electronics, so the market is of growing importance, not only politically but financially." Gerwert says electronic warfare will "become the third pillar of the business".
Frank Negretti, vice-president for electronic warfare products and obstacle warning systems at EADS, says it is close to completing talks with a US prime contractor to bid for the US Army's requirement for obstacle warning systems to equip 1,500 helicopters. Its Hellas laser scanning system is used by the German border guard and has been modified for military use.
The Hellas-A system is integrated into head-up displays and digital maps, with NATO-standard classification for poles, wires and trees. The system can detect cables as thin as 5mm (0.2in) from 700m when visibility is 12km (8nm).
JUSTIN WASTNAGE/ULM
Source: Flight International
