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'DaimlerChrysler Aerospace' AG, or 'DASA', was the former aerospace subsidiary of Daimler-Benz AG (later DaimlerChrysler) from 1989. In July 2000 DaimlerChrysler Aerospace merged with Aerospatiale-Matra and CASA to form EADS.

Contents

History

Transition to EADS

Projects

External links

History

DaimlerChrysler Aerospace was founded as 'Deutsche Aerospace AG' on May 19, 1989 by the merger of Daimler-Benz's aerospace interests MTU, Dornier and two divisions of AEG). In July 1989 the two AEG divisions were themselves merged within Deutsche Aerospace to form Telefunken Systemtechnik (TST).
In December 1989 Daimler-Benz acquired Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB) and merged it into Daimler-Benz Aerospace.
In March 1990 Daimler-Benz initiated a major restructuring of the new group, integrating the previously separate companies into five product groups; Aircraft, Space Systems, Defense and Civil Systems/Propulsion. Several companies continued to exist under their own names but by 1992 most (including MBB and TST) were fully integrated. In 1992, the helicopter division was joined to Aerospatiale's helicopter division to form the Eurocopter Group.
On January 1, 1995 the company changed its name to 'Daimler-Benz Aerospace AG'. With the 1998 merger of Daimler Benz and The Chrysler Corporation, the company was renamed ' DaimlerChrysler Aerospace AG' on November 7, 1998.

Transition to EADS

Defence consolidation became a major issue in 1998, with numerous reports linking various European defence groups — mainly with each other, but also with American defence contractors.
It was widely anticipated that DaimlerChrysler Aerospace would merge with British Aerospace (BAe) to form a pan-European aerospace giant, however BAe chose instead to merge with GEC's defence electronics business, Marconi Electronic Systems. This move, to create a UK company compared to what would have been an Anglo-German firm, made the possibility of further penetration of the United States (US) defence market more likely.
On July 10, 2000 DASA (minus MTU) merged with Aerospatiale-Matra of France and Construcciones Aeronáuticas SA (CASA) of Spain to form the 'European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company' (EADS). The former DaimlerChrysler Aerospace now operates as 'EADS Germany.'

Projects

In 1993 MiG Aircraft Support GmbH was established with DaimlerChrysler Aerospace holding a 50% stake. The company undertook the upgrade of the 24 MiG-29s to NATO standards. The aircraft were inherited from the former East Germany after the reunification of the country.
As part of the Eurofighter consortium DaimlerChrysler Aerospace manufactured the centre fuselage sections of all the development aircraft, (DA) beginning with DA1 which made its first flight from DaimlerChrysler Aerospace's Manching facility in March 1994. DaimlerChrysler Aerospace was responsible for the mid life upgrade (MLU) of the German fleet of Panavia Tornados, similar to the RAF's GR4 upgrade.
Owing to its expertise with German and NATO aircraft DaimlerChrysler Aerospace became an expert in upgrade of many allied aircraft, including the F-4 Phantom II and the E-3 Sentry.

External links

★ History of Daimler-Benz on KensAviation.com

★ About Daimler-Benz Aerospace