Airbus 2015 Annual Report Download - page 76

AIRBUS GROUP REGISTRATION DOCUMENT 2015 l 44 l
Informationon GroupActivities
1.1 Presentation of the Group
range from 6t for the CN235 to 9t for the C295. The aircraft are
offered in the most varied versions and configurations beyond
the traditional airlifter version, for example maritime patrol and
anti-submarine warfare, airborne early warning and control,
firefighting, etc. In more than 30years in service, this family
of aircraft has proven to be robust, reliable, high-performing,
efficient, flexible, easy to operate in any environment, and all
this at very low operating costs.
More than 440 orders have been recorded for both types
together at the end of 2015.
Unmanned Aerial Systems. In the field of unmanned aerial
systems (UAS), Airbus Defence andSpace is active at both
product- and service- level. Airbus Defence andSpace is the
leading UAS Service provider for the German air forces meeting
their medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) Intelligence,
Surveillance and Reconnaissance needs in the operational
theatre. The Harfang system, delivered to the French Air Force
and operational worldwide since 2009, is the only MALE product
in Europe certified to fly over populated areas, thanks to Airbus
UAS mission & communication system. These interim solutions,
based on non-proprietary MALE systems, will be replaced
by a new generation European MALE system where Airbus
Defence andSpace will be working on the Definition Study with
its European partners. Airbus Defence andSpace also provides
mini-UAS to the French- and selected export customers and
the KZO UAS to the German Armed Forces. It is developing
the EuroHawk system for high-altitude long-endurance (HALE)
Signal Intelligence missions based on an US platform for the
German Air Force as well as the solar powered Zephyr for the
UK MoD.
Customer Services. For all the aforementioned products,
Airbus Defence andSpace offers and provides various services
throughout the lifetime of the aircraft including integrated logistics
support, in-service support, maintenance, upgrades, training or
flight hour service. For example, the A330 MRTT contract with
the UK Ministry of Defence through the AirTanker consortium
includes alongside 14aircraft the provision for all necessary
infrastructure, training, maintenance, flight management, fleet
management and ground services to enable the Royal Air Force
to fly air-to-air refuelling and transport missions worldwide.
Customer services go beyond the fleet of aircraft currently in
production at Airbus Defence andSpace, conducting upgrade
programmes for aircraft such as the Tornado and C-160 Transall.
The support centres for military aircraft are strategically located
throughout the world, for example in Seville or Manching in
Europe, in Mobile, Alabama (US) or in subsidiaries in Saudi
Arabia or Oman.
Space Systems
Manned Space Flight. Airbus Defence andSpace has been
the prime contractor for the European part of the International
Space Station ISS. This includes the development and
integration of Columbus, the pressurised laboratory module
on the International Space Station (ISS) with an independent
life-support system successfully in orbit since 2007. It provides
a full-scale research environment under microgravity conditions
(material science, medicine, human physiology, biology, Earth
observation, fluid physics and astronomy) and serves as a test-
bed for new technologies.
In 2015, ESA awarded Airbus Defence andSpace a contract to
handle the engineering support of the European components
of the ISS, which represents a key part of the ISS operational
activities. Airbus Defence and Space was also the prime
contractor for the development and construction of the
Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) cargo carrier, designed to
carry fuel and supplies to the ISS and to provide re-boost
capability and a waste disposal solution. The fifth and last
ATV was launched in July2014. The expertise gained on the
ATV served to become the prime contractor for the European
service module of NASA’s next generation manned capsule
MPCV Orion.
Launch services. Airbus Defence andSpace is active in the
field of launch services through its shareholding in Airbus Safran
Launchers.
In January2015, AirbusGroup and Safran created a 50/50 joint
venture named Airbus Safran Launchers, a company responsible
for the coordination and programme management of civil
activities of the launcher business and relevant participations
that have been transferred. Airbus Safran Launchers currently
owns a total 39% stake in Arianespace (which will increase to
74% after the acquisition of the 35% stake currently held by
the French space agency CNES), 41% of Starsem (46% after
step-up in Arianespace shareholding) and 51% of Eurockot,
providing a complete range of launch services with the Ariane,
Soyuz, Vega and Rockot launchers.
Commercial launchers. Airbus Defence and Space
manufactures launchers and performs research and
development for the Ariane programmes. Member States,
through ESA, fund the development cost for Ariane launchers
and associated technology. Airbus Defence andSpace has
been the sole prime contractor for the Ariane5 system since
2004. In December2014, the Ariane6 programme was decided
by ESA ministerial conference with an approval of the joint Airbus
Defence andSpace and Safran concept. In addition a new
industrial set-up was announced with the creation of a joint
venture (Airbus Safran Launchers) between the two main Ariane
manufacturers. This vertical integration secures the future by
cutting costs and being more competitive. Ariane6 is targeted
to be launched in 2020.
Telecommunication satellites. Airbus Defence andSpace
produces telecommunication satellites used for both civil
and military applications, such as television and radio
broadcasting, fixed and mobile communication services and
Internet broadband access. Current Airbus Defence andSpace
geostationary telecommunication satellites are based on the
Financial Statements 2015
11 22 33 44 55
QRegistration Document 2015
Annual Report 2015 Financial Statements 2015