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EADS Propose NATO-wide Program to Replace CH-53
EADS is proposing a NATO-wide program to replace the Sikorsky
CH-53 helicopter, starting in 2012, according to co-CEO Rainer
Hertrich. The project for a 65,000-pound-plus helicopter, bigger
than the CH-47, would draw on EADS subsidiary Eurocopter's experience
with the high-technology, multinational NH 90 and would meet the
needs of the German army, U.S. Marine Corps and other NATO forces
with aging heavy helicopters. NATO, says Hertrich, "is more
important than ever."
It is a bold proposal that reflects EADS' confidence in its financial
and technical strength. "In less than three years, we've
become number one in commercial aircraft, number one in helicopters
and number two in missiles," EADS co-CEO Philippe Camus said
here on Monday. EADS has "the fastest-growing defense order
book in our industry," thanks to contract awards for the
A400M military transport, Meteor long-range air-to-air missile
and Eurofighter Typhoons for Austria. EADS' defense backlog should
reach 50 billion euros by the end of the year, Camus said.
Following the long and sometimes tormented international and domestic
negotiations that delayed the launch of the A400M and Meteor,
EADS is now pushing for the formation of a new Europe-wide agency
for research, technology and production. "We need to accelerate
European political decision making," says Hertrich. "We
need to develop a model of how to create European programs, when
the timing of different national requirements does not match,"
he suggests. "Maybe we could allow a program to start with
one or two nations, and others could joint later on."
Major programs to be launched soon include a European UAV effort,
Hertrich suggested, as well as a CH-53 replacement.
EADS' finances are healthy, the two CEOs said. The only money-losing
activity is space, where EADS is engaging in a major restructuring
and cost-cutting effort, dividing the unit into Astrium (spacecraft),
Space Transportation (Ariane and other launchers) and Space Services,
which includes the Paradigm venture selected to build and operate
the Skynet 5 comsats for the UK MoD. EADS plans to reduce costs
by 495 million euros by 2005. The company's defense business is
on track to make 10% profits on its 10 billion euro in annual
sales, and Airbus results will improve as the airline industry
recovers and as the A380 launch investment tapers off. On the
A380 "the major R&D investment will be behind us by the
end of 2003," Camus said.
By Bill Sweetman
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