Airbus Group

Airbus Group was the name used by the United States operating arm of the European aerospace company now known as Airbus. The entity was formerly called EADS North America and was established in 2003 to coordinate and expand the group's activities in the United States. Unlike Airbus Group SE, the short-lived European corporate name used by the parent company in 2014 and 2015, the Wikipedia subject Airbus Group refers to the American subsidiary, Airbus Group, Inc. This distinction is important because the two entities had different legal identities, locations, and roles. Headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, Airbus Group operated as a U.S.-based aerospace and defence contractor with activities distributed across multiple states and, in some operations, Canada. Its portfolio included fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, military and homeland-security systems, defence electronics and avionics, emergency communications, test and measurement equipment, and related support services. The organization included or oversaw businesses such as Airbus Helicopters, Inc., Airbus Military North America, Cassidian Communications, Fairchild Controls, and EADS North America Test and Services. A major part of its U.S. strategy was participation in federal defence and security programs. The company served as a prime contractor or major industrial participant on programs for the U.S. Army, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, and other government customers. Its most prominent programs included the UH-72A Lakota light utility helicopter, the HC-144A Ocean Sentry maritime patrol aircraft, H-65 Dolphin helicopters, and the TRS-3D multifunction radar. These products supported missions such as search and rescue, maritime surveillance, border security, disaster relief, medical evacuation, law enforcement, and military utility operations. The company expanded through acquisitions, facility investment, and competitive procurements. It acquired or integrated businesses in instruments, emergency-response technology, communications, and defence systems, while expanding helicopter production and engineering capacity in Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, and other locations. The planned Mobile, Alabama, commercial-aircraft assembly facility represented an important effort to deepen Airbus's industrial presence in the United States, although the facility ultimately belonged to the broader Airbus commercial-aircraft organization rather than defining Airbus Group as a separate continuing brand. Because Airbus Group, Inc. was a subsidiary rather than a separately listed public company, its activities were tied to the wider Airbus group and it did not have an independent stock-market identity. Airbus sold the subsidiary to Airbus SAS in November 2017. The Airbus Group name is therefore primarily historical in the context of the U.S. operating structure. Its former businesses and programs continued under Airbus and related operating entities, including Airbus Defence and Space, Airbus Helicopters, and other Airbus subsidiaries.

Airbus Group developed from the North American activities of the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company, or EADS. In 2003, EADS organized its United States interests under EADS North America. The American structure was intended to give the European group a coherent platform for U.S. government contracting, industrial partnerships, acquisitions, and customer support while addressing the special requirements associated with foreign participation in sensitive defence programs. The organization inherited a longer history of Airbus and Eurocopter activity in the United States. Aérospatiale had taken full control of Vought Helicopter in 1974 and renamed the business Aérospatiale Helicopter Corporation in 1976. A helicopter facility was established in Grand Prairie, Texas, and the operation later became associated with Eurocopter and then American Eurocopter. In 2003, the Grand Prairie operation became part of EADS North America. During the 2000s, EADS North America expanded its portfolio beyond helicopters. In 2004 it acquired Racal Instruments, later associated with EADS North America Test and Services, and opened an expanded helicopter production facility at the Golden Triangle Regional Airport in Mississippi. In 2005 it acquired Talon Instruments. These transactions broadened the U.S. business into test, measurement, and specialized technical equipment. The company also pursued major defence procurements. In 2006, it was selected with Sikorsky as a prime contractor for the U.S. Army's Light Utility Helicopter program. The resulting UH-72A Lakota was based on the commercial EC145 and became one of the organization's most important U.S. military programs. In 2007, the company was selected to provide DT-35 and DT-45 unmanned aerial targets to the U.S. Army. In the 2008 tanker competition, EADS North America and Northrop Grumman won the initial KC-X award for the KC-45, but Boeing successfully appealed. EADS North America later submitted its own proposal for the renewed competition; the Air Force selected Boeing in 2011, and EADS North America did not protest. The organization expanded into emergency response and public-safety technology through the 2008 acquisition of Plant CML, a California provider of emergency-response systems. Its communications activities included emergency call processing, notification services, and public-safety radio systems. The business also supplied security and defence technologies such as the TRS-3D radar, which was selected for U.S. Coast Guard National Security Cutters and the U.S. Navy's Littoral Combat Ship. In 2007, Airbus announced or developed plans for a U.S. engineering center in Mobile, Alabama. In 2012, Airbus formally announced plans for a commercial-aircraft assembly plant at Mobile's Brookley Aeroplex, with construction beginning in 2013. The plant was intended to assemble A319, A320, and A321 aircraft and reinforced Airbus's long-term manufacturing presence in the United States, although the plant was part of Airbus's wider commercial-aircraft organization. The American entity was later renamed Airbus Group, Inc., reflecting the broader Airbus-centered identity adopted by its European parent. It operated under a Special Security Arrangement that allowed certain U.S. defence activities to be conducted with operational independence despite foreign ownership. In November 2017, Airbus sold the entire subsidiary to Airbus SAS. The Airbus Group name consequently ceased to describe a distinct continuing U.S. corporate structure, while many of its capabilities and programs remained within Airbus's broader American operations.

1. 2017Airbus sells the subsidiary to Airbus SAS

   Airbus sold its wholly owned Airbus Group, Inc. subsidiary to Airbus SAS, ending the entity's independent corporate identity.

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2. 2013Construction begins at Mobile

   Construction began on the planned Mobile assembly facility.

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3. 2012Mobile commercial-aircraft assembly plans are announced

   Airbus announced plans for a commercial-aircraft assembly plant at Brookley Aeroplex in Mobile, Alabama.

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4. 2011Boeing wins the renewed tanker competition

   The U.S. Air Force selected Boeing for the renewed KC-X procurement, and EADS North America did not challenge the decision.

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5. 2008KC-45 tanker team wins initial competition

   EADS North America and Northrop Grumman were selected for the U.S. Air Force tanker competition, but the award was later overturned after Boeing's successful appeal.

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6. 2008Plant CML is acquired

   EADS North America acquired Plant CML, expanding into emergency-response and public-safety communications technology.

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7. 2007Airbus engineering center is opened in Mobile

   An Airbus engineering center was established in Mobile, Alabama, strengthening the group's U.S. engineering presence.

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8. 2006Selected for the Light Utility Helicopter program

   The company and Sikorsky were selected as prime contractors for the U.S. Army Light Utility Helicopter program, which produced the UH-72A Lakota.

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9. 2005Talon Instruments is acquired

   The acquisition added further specialized instrumentation capabilities to the North American organization.

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10. 2004Racal Instruments is acquired

    EADS North America acquired Racal Instruments, expanding its U.S. test and measurement capabilities.

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11. 2004Mississippi helicopter facility opens

    An 85,500-square-foot helicopter production facility opened at Golden Triangle Regional Airport in Mississippi.

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12. 2003EADS North America is established

    EADS organized its principal North American activities under EADS North America, including the Grand Prairie helicopter operation.

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13. 1979New helicopter facility begins development in Grand Prairie

    Work began on a helicopter facility in Grand Prairie, Texas, which later became part of the American Eurocopter and EADS North America structure.

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14. 1976Vought Helicopter becomes Aérospatiale Helicopter Corporation

    The U.S. helicopter operation was renamed Aérospatiale Helicopter Corporation.

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15. 1974Aérospatiale takes control of Vought Helicopter

    Aérospatiale acquired full control of Vought Helicopter, establishing an earlier foundation for the European group's later helicopter presence in the United States.

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A U.S.-based aerospace, defence, homeland-security, and public-safety operating arm of Airbus, combining aircraft manufacturing with government systems and specialized technology services.

• UH-72A LakotaMilitary utility helicopter2006

  A light utility helicopter derived from the commercial EC145 and supplied to the U.S. Army and other government users. The Lakota supports training, medical evacuation, search and rescue, disaster response, law-enforcement assistance, and other utility missions. Airbus Group, Inc. acted as a prime contractor for the U.S. Army program and delivered aircraft under a multi-year acquisition plan.

• HC-144A Ocean SentryMaritime patrol aircraft

  A maritime patrol aircraft supplied to the U.S. Coast Guard as part of its modernization program. The Ocean Sentry provides surveillance and patrol capabilities for maritime security, search and rescue, fisheries enforcement, border protection, and related missions.

• H-65 DolphinSearch-and-rescue helicopter

  A helicopter operated by the U.S. Coast Guard for search and rescue, fisheries patrol, maritime security, border enforcement, and counter-narcotics operations. The type was part of Airbus's substantial helicopter presence among U.S. government and law-enforcement customers.

• TRS-3DDefence radar

  A lightweight multifunction radar designed for surveillance, self-defence, gunfire support, and helicopter control. It was selected for U.S. Coast Guard National Security Cutters and the U.S. Navy's Littoral Combat Ship.

• Cassidian emergency communications systemsPublic-safety communications

  Emergency call-processing, notification, and public-safety radio solutions supplied through Cassidian Communications. These systems served emergency-response organizations and public-safety users in the United States and Canada.

• DT-35 and DT-45 unmanned aerial targetsUnmanned aerial target systems2007

  Unmanned aerial target systems selected by the U.S. Army for training and weapons-testing applications. Their selection expanded the company's role beyond crewed aircraft and into defence testing support.

• KC-45AAerial refueling tanker proposal2008

  A proposed U.S. aerial refueling tanker based on the A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport. The aircraft was intended for assembly in Mobile, Alabama, but the program was not awarded to EADS North America in the renewed competition.

• 2017Transfer the U.S. subsidiary to Airbus SASM&A

  Airbus reorganized ownership of its North American corporate structure.

  What changed. Airbus sold its wholly owned Airbus Group, Inc. subsidiary to Airbus SAS.

  Aftermath. The Airbus Group, Inc. entity ceased to operate as a separately identified subsidiary, with its activities continuing within Airbus's broader structure.

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• 2012Expand Airbus commercial-aircraft manufacturing in the United StatesStrategy

  Airbus sought to increase its U.S. industrial footprint and establish local final assembly for its A320-family aircraft.

  What changed. Airbus announced a Mobile, Alabama, assembly facility and began construction in 2013.

  Aftermath. The project strengthened Airbus's U.S. manufacturing presence, although it was part of the wider Airbus commercial-aircraft organization rather than a standalone Airbus Group product line.

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• 2008Bid for the KC-X tanker programOther

  The U.S. Air Force was seeking a replacement for its aging aerial refueling tanker fleet.

  What changed. EADS North America teamed with Northrop Grumman and proposed the KC-45, derived from the A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport.

  Aftermath. The initial award was successfully appealed by Boeing. EADS later submitted an independent proposal, but Boeing won the renewed competition in 2011.

  • Boeing — Boeing appealed the initial award and subsequently won the renewed tanker competition.
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• 2006Pursue the U.S. Army Light Utility Helicopter programProduct launch

  The U.S. Army required a light utility helicopter for training and operational support missions.

  What changed. Airbus Group's American predecessor participated as a prime contractor with Sikorsky and based its proposed aircraft on the EC145.

  Aftermath. The resulting UH-72A Lakota became a significant U.S. military helicopter program.

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• 2003Create a dedicated North American aerospace and defence structureStrategy

  EADS sought to consolidate its U.S. activities and compete more effectively for American government and defence contracts.

  What changed. The group organized its American businesses under EADS North America.

  Aftermath. The structure supported acquisitions, government contracting, helicopter production, engineering, and homeland-security activities in the United States.

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• 2017Airbus sells Airbus Group, Inc. subsidiary to Airbus SAS

  Airbus transferred its entire ownership of Airbus Group, Inc. to its French subsidiary Airbus SAS, ending the subsidiary's operation as a separately identified Airbus Group entity.

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• 2011Boeing wins the KC-X aerial refueling tanker contract

  The U.S. Air Force selected Boeing for the tanker competition. EADS North America did not protest the decision, ending its attempt to secure the program.

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• 2010Airbus Group submits proposal for the U.S. Air Force tanker competition

  After Northrop Grumman withdrew from the later phase of the KC-X procurement, EADS North America submitted a proposal as prime contractor for an aerial refueling tanker based on the A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport.

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1. Airbus Group
2. Airbus history