Airbus 2014 Annual Report Download - page 45
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Please find page 45 of the 2014 Airbus annual report below. You can navigate through the pages in the report by either clicking on the pages listed below, or by using the keyword search tool below to find specific information within the annual report.01 - Eurofighter Typhoon
02 - H130 (foreground) and AS350B2
03 - Eutelsat 172B
04 - Artist’s impression of Ariane 6
03 04
NEW SPACE ENTRANTS
Historically, new developments in space have
largely been steered by the major national and
international space agencies such as NASA in
the US and ESA (European Space Agency) in
Europe. ESA, which coordinates investment in
space programmes amongst its 20 member
states, announced in January 2015 an avail-
able annual budget of €4.43 billion. This repres-
ents an increase of 8% on the 2014 figure.
At its Ministerial Conference in December 2014,
ESA approved funding to develop a new Ariane
6 launcher family, as well as an upgraded Vega
small-satellite launcher, representing a 10-year
investment of around €8 billion.
While government funding continues to play a
major role in the business, new entrants, part-
icularly from the high-technology sector are
increasingly considering the potential of aero-
space applications. Satellites and drones, for
example, can be used to expand internet cov-
erage to remote areas. The US high-technology
giants, in particular, have significant financial
resources to invest.
In the launcher field for example, SpaceX, a pri-
vate company founded in 2002 by a former
Paypal entrepreneur, has emerged as a strong
contender winning market share from estab-
lished players. SpaceX, which in January 2015
raised a billion dollars in a financing round
with Google and Fidelity, is pioneering new
technologies such as reusable launchers. It
has also announced plans to enter the satellite
market, creating a fleet of several thousand
satellites for a global Internet service.
In January 2015, WorldVu Satellites Limited,
operating as OneWeb Ltd, announced similar
plans to build, launch and operate a low-earth-
orbit constellation of 648 satellites to help bring
high-speed Internet and telephony to billions
of people around the world. Initial investors
include The Virgin Group and Qualcomm.
The arrival of new entrants is reshaping the in-
dustry, driving innovation and cost reduction in
the sector. For traditional aerospace compa-
nies, such developments could increasingly
represent a competitive risk or indeed an
opportunity for successful partnership.
ANNUAL REVIEW 2014
43
02 PILOTING EFFICIENCY