Airbus parent company EADS and Britain’s largest defence group BAE Systems have confirmed they are in merger talks to create a European industrial powerhouse – with Bristol set to play a key role in the new super-group
Both firms have major operations in and around the city. Airbus employs more than 4,000 people at its Filton plant where it designs wings, landing gear and fuel systems for all Airbus aircraft. EADS itself has operations on the same site which are developing pioneering new non-metalic materials for aircraft parts.
BAE has a number of bases in Bristol, including at Filton, which it originally owned and where its predecessor companies, including British Aerospace, built generations of civil aircraft. BAE’s Bristol operations today are mainly linked with the MoD a
nd include design engineering for military ships such as the Type 45 destroyer, pictured, and cyber security work.
BAE shareholders would own 40% of the combined group and EADS shareholders the remaining 60%, BAE said in a statement. The combined group would be larger than US rival Boeing.
“The potential combination would create a world-class international aerospace, defence and security group with substantial centres of manufacturing and technology excellence in France, Germany, Spain, the UK and the USA,” BAE Systems said.
BAE employs 83,600 people in its prime markets of the UK, Australia, India, Saudi Arabia and the US. Its divisions span regional aircraft, tanks and armoured combat vehicles, naval ships and security systems, including the fast-growing area of cyber security.
As well as Airbus, EADS, a consortium of aerospace and defence manufacturers from France, Germany and Spain, also owns helicopter group Eurocopter, space company Astrium and security systems firm Cassidian.
It employs around 133,000 people at more than 170 sites worldwide.
