Airbus Defence & Space Striving to Maintain its Cutting Edge Technology
Munich. As global defence market is becoming increasingly competitive, Airbus Defence & Space is striving to maintain its edge by introducing future ready technologies, innovation, diversification and constant improvement in military aircraft, helicopters, Eurofighter Typhoon and capturing fragmented markets like that of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and pseudo-satellites.
“The world is going fast, we have to follow the speed,” said Jean Pierre Talamoni who heads the Sales and Marketing division of Airbus Defence & Space (Airbus DS). Citing example of market for UAVs which is dominated by 150 kg UAVs, Jana Rosenmann, Head, UAV, Airbus Defence & Space said even with thousands of drones flying, the market was still fragmented.
“We are seriously looking at as to what is the driver for consolidation of this market? This is a great market opportunity but with strong uncertainty,” she said while addressing journalists at the 16th Trade Media Briefing (TMB) here. Market for commercial UAVs is estimated to grow to nearly $17 billion by 2020.
She said Airbus DS has provided Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) operational services on three Heron 1 UAS with two ground stations in Afghanistan for the German Air Force and the leasing programme has gone on since 2009. She said Airbus DS was exploring new opportunities in Zephyr – high altitude pseudo-satellite which has applications for surveillance, communications, and internet connectivity.
The UK Ministry of Defence has already purchased two Zephyr S systems for a capability demonstration next year. Airbus DS has joined hands with localmotors.com, a 3D auto design company, for the design of 25 kg drone which can be used for emergency medical supplies.
Referring to the defence procurement market, senior Airbus DS officials said of the four billion plus Euro, 25 per cent was dedicated to aircraft and another 25 per cent to space systems, missiles and UAVs. Airbus DS is going strong with its proven military aircraft like C-295 which has already sold 168 aircraft to 23 countries, heavy lift A400M despite some hiccups, A-330 MRTT tankers and Eurofighter which has already proven to be combat ready and 474 fighters are in service in six countries.
“A-330 MRTT had also been approved by India and the situation for the past few years has been slightly uncertain. But we are expecting things to move soon so far as India is concerned,” a senior official said.
Airbus helicopters, with its training and manufacturing facility in Donauworth, about 150 km from Munich, has managed to carve out a global presence with its range of choppers serving in 152 countries with 3,010 operators. The helicopter division posted 6.8 billion Euro turn over in 2015. The group has built up an impressive portfolio of civil and military helicopters with a total of 19 models to pick from, consisting both single and twin engines with light and heavy weight classes. Airbus Helicopters have secured a global market share of 45 per cent.
Two years ago, Eurocopter was renamed Airbus Helicopters and the helicopter designations were rebranded from ‘EC’ to ‘H’ with the facility manufacturing airframe, electronics, and blades. Some of the models on display were H135 and its military variant H135M as well as the H145 which has found deployments for missions in air rescue, law enforcement, VIP transport or in the offshore segment. A senior official said the helicopter has also found acceptance in the US where it is used among the armed forces as the Light Utility Helicopter UH-72A Lakota. The military version is branded as H145M.
Donauworth is also home to two other important military programmes – the attack helicopter Tiger as well as the NH90 Tactical Transport Helicopter and NFH (NATO Frigate Helicopter).
(This correspondent was in Munich recently at the invitation of Airbus Defence and Space)
