BAE Systems Platforms & Services

BAE Systems Platforms & Services was a BAE Systems business grouping serving defense customers with military platforms, weapons, munitions, naval systems, survivability products, and lifecycle support. The organization was principally associated with BAE Systems Inc. in the United States and represented the expansion of BAE Systems into a major land-systems and defense-support position following a series of acquisitions and internal reorganizations. The business was created on 24 June 2005 after BAE Systems completed its acquisition of United Defense Industries and combined that company’s activities with BAE Systems Land Systems. United Defense brought substantial North American capabilities in tracked and wheeled combat vehicles, artillery, naval guns, missile launchers, and precision-guided munitions. BAE’s existing land portfolio had developed from the former Royal Ordnance and RO Defence businesses, the acquisition of Alvis, and defense activities inherited through the 1999 merger of British Aerospace and Marconi Electronic Systems. The resulting organization gave BAE Systems a much broader presence in the United States, then one of the world’s largest defense procurement markets. Its portfolio covered several connected areas. Vehicle activities included main battle tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel and tactical vehicles, engineering vehicles, mine-resistant and all-terrain vehicles, and military bridging systems. Representative platforms included the Challenger 2 and the CV90 family. Weapons activities included artillery systems, combat-vehicle turrets, naval guns, air-defense guns, and the M777 lightweight howitzer. The munitions business produced small-arms ammunition, mortar and artillery ammunition, explosives, propellants, demolition charges, initiators, pyrotechnics, missile and torpedo warheads, and guidance-related products. The business also participated in advanced ordnance programs such as the BROACH multi-stage warhead, developed with technology partners. Support activities extended beyond manufacturing. The organization provided repair, modernization, systems integration, and sustainment for military fleets and combat systems. Its support portfolio included work on the U.S. Navy’s Aegis combat system, integration support for U.S. and Royal Navy submarine ballistic-missile systems, and non-nuclear ship repair through BAE Systems Ship Repair. The ship-repair business operated facilities serving the U.S. Navy, other military customers, and selected commercial operators. Internal restructuring continued after formation. Global Tactical Systems combined vehicle activities associated with the former Armor Holdings business and BAE Systems Land Systems South Africa. Global Combat Systems was formed in 2009 by combining BAE land-systems weapons and vehicles operations, the munitions and ordnance business, and BAE Systems AB in Sweden. Other functions, including Security and Survivability, were later scheduled for reassignment or closure as standalone organizational units. The available reference material describes the historical business and its reorganizations but does not establish a definitive current operating status under the exact Platforms & Services name. It is therefore best treated as a historical BAE Systems business grouping rather than an independently branded, separately listed company.

The business’s history reflects the consolidation of British and American defense capabilities within BAE Systems. BAE Systems itself was formed in 1999 through the merger of British Aerospace and Marconi Electronic Systems. British Aerospace contributed the RO Defence business, descended from the Royal Ordnance manufacturing base and active in explosives, ammunition, and small arms. Marconi Electronic Systems contributed defense assets including Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering, whose portfolio included naval and artillery-related work. BAE made a decisive move into land systems in 2003 by outbidding General Dynamics for Alvis, then the United Kingdom’s principal land-systems company. Alvis was combined with RO Defence and related facilities to form BAE Systems Land Systems. The acquisition strengthened BAE’s position in armored vehicles and military systems and helped retain a major competitor within BAE’s established market environment. A further reorganization in 2004 placed BAE’s land activities within BAE Systems Land and Armaments, headquartered in the United States as part of BAE Systems Inc. In March 2005, BAE Systems announced a roughly $3.174 billion acquisition of United Defense Industries. United Defense was a major North American defense contractor with expertise in tracked combat vehicles, artillery, naval guns, missile launchers, and guided munitions. Following completion of the transaction, BAE combined United Defense with its Land Systems operations. The resulting Platforms & Services organization was created on 24 June 2005 and became one of the group’s largest land-defense businesses. The portfolio expanded again when BAE Systems acquired Armor Holdings in 2007. That transaction added armored and tactical vehicle capabilities and increased the scale of the land-and-armaments operation. Vehicle activities were subsequently organized through units such as Global Tactical Systems, which brought together the former Armor Holdings medium- and heavy-vehicle operations with BAE Systems Land Systems South Africa. The former United Defense activities were managed through U.S. Combat Systems. Global Combat Systems was established on 1 February 2009 through the combination of BAE Systems Land Systems Weapons & Vehicles, Land Systems Munitions & Ordnance, and BAE Systems AB in Sweden. Its activities included combat vehicles, weapons, artillery, naval guns, air-defense systems, and munitions. The organization also held a 50/50 joint venture with Nexter, then known as GIAT, through CTA International in France. Support Solutions formed another important part of the business. It supported the U.S. Navy’s Aegis combat system and provided systems-integration work for U.S. and Royal Navy submarine ballistic-missile fleets. BAE Systems Ship Repair, descended in part from United States Marine Repair and related shipyard acquisitions, operated a network of U.S. facilities providing non-nuclear repair and modernization. Its customers included the U.S. Navy, other U.S. military organizations, and some commercial cruise operators. The group also experienced competitive setbacks. It failed to secure the U.S. M-ATV contract in 2008 and subsequently lost a major Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles competition to Oshkosh after a bid review. In 2010 BAE announced a substantial writedown associated with the former Armor Holdings business. Separately, Security and Survivability was scheduled to disappear as a standalone organization on 1 January 2011, with its capabilities redistributed to Global Tactical Systems and the BAE Systems Products Group. The available material does not provide a definitive account of the later legal or operating status of the exact Platforms & Services entity, so its present status remains uncertain.

1. 2011Security and Survivability is scheduled for dissolution

   The standalone Security and Survivability organization was scheduled to end, with its functional areas transferred to other BAE businesses.

   Source
2. 2009Global Combat Systems is formed

   Weapons, vehicles, munitions, ordnance, and Swedish BAE Systems activities were combined into Global Combat Systems.

   Source
3. 2007Armor Holdings is acquired

   The acquisition added armored and tactical vehicle capabilities and enlarged BAE’s land-and-armaments activities.

   Source
4. 2005United Defense acquisition is completed

   The acquisition of United Defense expanded BAE’s North American combat-vehicle, artillery, naval-gun, missile-launcher, and munitions capabilities.

   Source
5. 2005Platforms & Services is created

   On 24 June, BAE combined United Defense with Land Systems activities to establish the Platforms & Services business grouping.

   Source
6. 2004Land and Armaments is organized

   BAE reorganized its land businesses under BAE Systems Land and Armaments, headquartered in the United States within BAE Systems Inc.

   Source
7. 2003BAE Systems acquires Alvis

   BAE Systems outbid General Dynamics for Alvis and combined it with RO Defence to create BAE Systems Land Systems.

   Source
8. 1999BAE Systems is formed

   British Aerospace merged with Marconi Electronic Systems, bringing together defense businesses that later contributed to the Platforms & Services portfolio.

   Source

An integrated defense-platform and sustainment provider combining land vehicles, artillery, naval weapons, munitions, survivability technologies, systems integration, and military support services.

• Armored combat vehiclesLand systems

  The vehicle portfolio included main battle tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, armored engineering vehicles, armored all-terrain vehicles, and military bridging systems. Examples associated with the wider BAE land-systems portfolio include the Challenger 2 and the CV90 family. The business also provided support and modernization for fielded vehicle fleets.

• M777 howitzerArtillery

  The M777 is a lightweight towed artillery system associated with the former United Defense and BAE Systems weapons portfolio. It illustrates the organization’s role in artillery systems for U.S. and international defense customers.

• Global Combat Systems MunitionsMunitions and ordnance

  The munitions business produced small-arms ammunition in several military calibers, mortar and land- and sea-artillery ammunition, explosives, propellants, demolition charges, initiators, pyrotechnics, and warheads for missiles, torpedoes, and depth charges. It also participated in advanced warhead and guidance-related programs.

• BROACH multi-stage warheadPrecision-strike ordnance

  BROACH is a multi-stage warhead program produced through cooperation involving BAE Systems, Thales Missile Electronics, and QinetiQ. It represents the organization’s work in specialized missile warhead and precision-strike technologies.

• Naval gun and air-defense systemsNaval and air-defense weapons

  Global Combat Systems Weapons manufactured intelligent ammunition, artillery systems, combat-vehicle turrets, naval guns, and air-defense gun systems. These products served both platform manufacturers and military operators.

• Ship repair and modernizationDefense services

  BAE Systems Ship Repair provided non-nuclear repair, overhaul, and modernization for U.S. Navy vessels and other military or commercial customers. Its facilities included sites in Norfolk, San Francisco, Pearl Harbor, San Diego, Mobile, Mayport, and Jacksonville.

• Aegis and submarine-system supportSystems integration and sustainment

  Support Solutions provided support for the U.S. Navy’s Aegis combat system and prime systems-integration services for U.S. and Royal Navy submarine ballistic-missile systems.

• 2010Reassign Security and Survivability activitiesStrategy

  BAE Systems reviewed the organization of survivability, personal protection, and advanced-materials capabilities.

  What changed. It announced that Security and Survivability would cease as a standalone organization on 1 January 2011, with its functions transferred to Global Tactical Systems or the Products Group.

  Aftermath. The capabilities continued within other BAE structures, but the dedicated Security and Survivability unit no longer operated independently.

  Source
• 2009Create Global Combat SystemsStrategy

  BAE Systems reorganized its weapons, vehicle, munitions, ordnance, and Swedish operations to simplify management of related combat-system activities.

  What changed. The relevant businesses were combined into Global Combat Systems, including a joint venture with Nexter through CTA International.

  Aftermath. The reorganization grouped major weapons, vehicles, and munitions capabilities under a more integrated operating structure.

  Source
• 2005Combine United Defense with BAE Systems Land SystemsM&A

  BAE Systems sought to expand its land-systems scale and strengthen its position in the North American defense market after acquiring United Defense.

  What changed. The United Defense business was merged with BAE Systems Land Systems to create the Platforms & Services grouping.

  Aftermath. The combination made BAE Systems one of the largest international land-systems defense contractors and broadened its vehicle, artillery, naval-gun, and munitions portfolio.

  Source

• 2010BAE Systems loses the follow-on Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles competition

  After a bid reevaluation, the U.S. Army confirmed Oshkosh as the winner of a major tactical-truck program, prompting BAE Systems to record a writedown connected with the former Armor Holdings business.

  Other
  Source
• 2010Security and Survivability is reorganized

  BAE Systems announced that the Security and Survivability organization would cease to exist as a standalone unit from 1 January 2011, with its functional areas transferred to other businesses.

  Other
  Source
• 2008BAE Systems loses the U.S. M-ATV contract

  BAE Systems did not win the U.S. military contract for Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected All-Terrain Vehicles, a program ultimately awarded to Oshkosh.

  Other
  Source
• 2005BAE Systems acquires United Defense Industries

  BAE Systems completed its acquisition of United Defense, materially expanding its U.S. land-systems, artillery, naval-gun, missile-launcher, vehicle, and precision-munitions businesses.

  M&A
  Source
• 2005BAE Systems forms the Platforms & Services business grouping

  The new organization combined United Defense activities with BAE Systems Land Systems after the United Defense transaction.

  Other
  Source

1. BAE Systems Platforms & Services