BAE Systems Inc.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 86.150.215.17 (talk) at 15:21, 1 August 2007 (→‎Expansion). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

BAE Systems Inc.
Company typePrivate (subsidiary of BAE Systems plc)
IndustryAerospace and defence
FoundedNovember 30, 1999
HeadquartersRockville, Maryland
Key people
Walt Havenstein (President & CEO)
ProductsCivil and military aerospace, naval vessels, munitions, land warfare systems, others
Number of employees
45,000 (2005)
ParentBAE Systems plc
SubsidiariesBAE Systems Customer Solutions
BAE Systems E&IS
BAE Systems Land and Armaments
Websitewww.na.baesystems.com

BAE Systems Inc. (formerly BAE Systems North America) is a major subsidiary of the UK-based defence and aerospace company BAE Systems plc. It operates as a semi-autonomous business unit within BAE Systems controlled at a local level by American management.

BAE Systems' 2003 Annual Report states that then BAE Systems North America had an order book of £2.4 billion, sales of £2.7 billion and a profit of £230 million. In context; group figures were £46 billion, £12.6 billion £980 million respectively.

History

The company was created on November 30 1999. On this date Marconi Electronic Systems (MES) and British Aerospace (BAe) merged to form BAE Systems. Their respective subsidiaries in the USA, Marconi North America and British Aerospace North America, were similarly merged to form BAE Systems North America.

In the company's 2003 Annual Report the Chairman sums up BAE Systems' strategy since the merger; "In recent years BAE Systems has undergone a radical transformation from a UK-based aircraft manufacturer to a broadly-based systems business. Through this transformation the company has achieved a more balanced portfolio and geographic spread."

BAE Systems North America was renamed BAE Systems Inc. in 2005 following a major reorganisation of BAE Systems plc as a result of the Eurosystems (Selex) and UDI transactions.

Expansion

In 1999 by far the most significant part of the newly created BAE Systems North America was Tracor, which was acquired by Marconi North America in 1998. Since 1999 almost all of BAE Systems' growth has been concentrated in the US. BAE Systems North America has grown to the point where its sales to the (American) Department of Defense have surpassed those of its parent to the (British) Ministry of Defence. BAE Systems is now by far the largest foreign investor in the US defence industry.

With the political and military ties that exist between the US and the UK, BAE Systems has faced little opposition to acquisitions of important US defence contractors. The biggest test to date was the purchase of United Defense Industries (UDI), completed in 2005.

In April 2000 BAE purchased Lockheed Martin Control Systems (LMCS), a manufacturer of electronic controls for aircraft, space vehicles and the transportation industry for $510 million USD. LMCS was renamed BAE Systems Platform Solutions. In November 2000 BAE purchased Lockheed Martin Aerospace Electronic Systems, a defence systems company which encompassed Sanders, Fairchild Systems and Lockheed Martin Space Electronics & Communications. Following an internal reorganisation the division became BAE Systems Electronics and Integrated Solutions (E&IS).

In December 2002 BAE completed its acquisition of Condor Pacific, Inc. for $58.5 million. Condor Pacific was a manufacturer of sensors and guidance systems for the aerospace industry. [1]

In 2003 BAE acquired Advanced Power Technologies, Inc (APTI), a data exploitation company and provider of communications and networking solutions, for $27 million. APTI was merged into E&IS. In March 2003 BAE acquired MEVATEC, a provider of "professional technical services", which was renamed BAE Systems Analytical & Ordnance Solutions.

In 2004 BAE purchased STI Government Systems which provides "photonics, information technologies, system integration ...and a variety of services to other government agencies in areas such as pollution mapping and search and rescue." [2]STI is now part of the CNIR division of BAE E&IS. In August 2004 BAE acquired Boeing Commercial Electronics (now part of the Platform Solutions unit of BAE Systems E&IS).

Corporate governance

Current members of the board of directors of BAE Systems North America are: Sheila Cheston, Robert S. Cooper, Robert Fitch, Lee Hamilton, Walt Havenstein, Richard Kerr, Kenneth Minihan, Mark Ronald, Michael Rouse, William Schneider, Michael Turner, and Anthony Zinni.

Product range

  • Data links/communications
  • Combat identification (IFF)
  • Electronic warfare and missile countermeasures
  • Reconnaissance and surveillance systems
  • Avionics
  • Flight controls and engine controls
  • Munitions
  • IT

Organisation

References

  1. ^ "BAE Systems North America completes $58.5 million acquisition of Condor Pacific Industries" (Press release). BAE Systems North America. 2002-12-06. Retrieved 2006-08-17.
  2. ^ "BAE Systems to purchase STI Government Systems" (Press release). BAE Systems North America. 2004-04-05. Retrieved 2006-08-17.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=BAE_Systems_Inc.&oldid=148512144"