EADS wins 'eye in sky' contract
A consortium led by European aerospace company EADS has won a contract to supply a multi-billion-dollar surveillance system to Nato.
The alliance said it aimed to sign a contract for the "eye in the sky" programme - which is expected to enter service in 2010 - by spring next year.
Under the deal, the group will supply Nato with a system that uses aircraft, unmanned drones and ground systems.
The deal is though to be worth up to four billion euros ($4.9bn, £2.7bn).
Nato said the new equipment "will be essential enabling capability for the Nato Response Force and will provide... an invaluable Eye in the Sky".
It added that the system would gather information about what was happening on the ground during peacetime, crisis or war.
EADS Airbus A321 planes will be among those provided as part of the surveillance system.
Good news
Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics Canada, French defence firm Thales, Spain's Indra and Italy's Galileo Avionica were among the companies in the winning EADS-led consortium.
A spokesman for EADS - the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company - in Munich said: "We are pleased with this decision."
He declined to give financial details but said further information would be released next week.
US rival Raytheon had led another consortium bidding for the contract. That included Siemens and Alenia Marconi Systems - a joint venture between the UK's BAE Systems and Italy's Finmeccanica.
The contract is further good news for EADS - home of the Airbus passenger jets - which has recently pulled ahead of US rival Boeing for the first time in its 30-year history.
Last month, the firm revealed it had returned to the black in 2003, unveiling net profits of 152m euros ($188m; £102m) for the year, driven by a late surge in deliveries.
EADS, along with other aerospace companies, had suffered in the wake of the 11 September 2001 US terrorist attacks and was driven into the red in 2002.
Source: BBCNews
The NATO release:
NATO to acquire ‘eyes in the sky’
In a major development for NATO’s ability to conduct future operations, member countries have decided to jointly purchase a state-of-the-art ground surveillance system by Spring 2005.
Made up of special aircraft, unmanned flying drones and ground equipment, the Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) system will provide NATO decision-makers with images and critical information on what is happening on the ground in a given area in peacetime, crisis or conflict.
These ‘eyes in the sky’ will greatly facilitate both the planning and conduct of NATO operations.
Historic decision
On 16 April, National Armament Directors from the 25 NATO member countries endorsed the decision to sign a contract for the system, by Spring 2005, with the Transatlantic Industrial Proposed Solution, made up of EADS, Galileo Avionica, General Dynamics Canada, Indra, Northrop Grumman and Thales. It is to be delivered by 2010.
The development of a NATO ground surveillance system has long been considered a major priority for the Alliance.
The decision is a major step forward, also because it is a joint procurement decision by NATO member countries.
“This is only the second time in NATO’s history that members join forces in procurement on this scale,†said NATO Spokesman James Appathurai, referring to AWACS surveillance aircraft purchased in the 1980s.
“By deciding to purchase a common system, rather than separate, nationally owned systems, member countries will save on costs and make best use of taxpayers’ money,†he added.
Source: NATO
A consortium led by European aerospace company EADS has won a contract to supply a multi-billion-dollar surveillance system to Nato.
The alliance said it aimed to sign a contract for the "eye in the sky" programme - which is expected to enter service in 2010 - by spring next year.
Under the deal, the group will supply Nato with a system that uses aircraft, unmanned drones and ground systems.
The deal is though to be worth up to four billion euros ($4.9bn, £2.7bn).
Nato said the new equipment "will be essential enabling capability for the Nato Response Force and will provide... an invaluable Eye in the Sky".
It added that the system would gather information about what was happening on the ground during peacetime, crisis or war.
EADS Airbus A321 planes will be among those provided as part of the surveillance system.
Good news
Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics Canada, French defence firm Thales, Spain's Indra and Italy's Galileo Avionica were among the companies in the winning EADS-led consortium.
A spokesman for EADS - the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company - in Munich said: "We are pleased with this decision."
He declined to give financial details but said further information would be released next week.
US rival Raytheon had led another consortium bidding for the contract. That included Siemens and Alenia Marconi Systems - a joint venture between the UK's BAE Systems and Italy's Finmeccanica.
The contract is further good news for EADS - home of the Airbus passenger jets - which has recently pulled ahead of US rival Boeing for the first time in its 30-year history.
Last month, the firm revealed it had returned to the black in 2003, unveiling net profits of 152m euros ($188m; £102m) for the year, driven by a late surge in deliveries.
EADS, along with other aerospace companies, had suffered in the wake of the 11 September 2001 US terrorist attacks and was driven into the red in 2002.
Source: BBCNews
The NATO release:
NATO to acquire ‘eyes in the sky’
In a major development for NATO’s ability to conduct future operations, member countries have decided to jointly purchase a state-of-the-art ground surveillance system by Spring 2005.
Made up of special aircraft, unmanned flying drones and ground equipment, the Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) system will provide NATO decision-makers with images and critical information on what is happening on the ground in a given area in peacetime, crisis or conflict.
These ‘eyes in the sky’ will greatly facilitate both the planning and conduct of NATO operations.
Historic decision
On 16 April, National Armament Directors from the 25 NATO member countries endorsed the decision to sign a contract for the system, by Spring 2005, with the Transatlantic Industrial Proposed Solution, made up of EADS, Galileo Avionica, General Dynamics Canada, Indra, Northrop Grumman and Thales. It is to be delivered by 2010.
The development of a NATO ground surveillance system has long been considered a major priority for the Alliance.
The decision is a major step forward, also because it is a joint procurement decision by NATO member countries.
“This is only the second time in NATO’s history that members join forces in procurement on this scale,†said NATO Spokesman James Appathurai, referring to AWACS surveillance aircraft purchased in the 1980s.
“By deciding to purchase a common system, rather than separate, nationally owned systems, member countries will save on costs and make best use of taxpayers’ money,†he added.
Source: NATO