DASA
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Deutsche Aerospace AG
Daimler-Benz Aerospace AG
DaimlerChrysler Aerospace AG
Founded May 19, 1989 as Deutsche Aerospace AG, bundling space and aeronautic elements of Daimler-Benz (including Dornier Luftfahrt), Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB), MTU München, and Telefunken Systemtechnik (TST)
In 1992, the helicopter division was joined to Aerospatiale's helicopter division to form the Eurocopter Group.
In 1993 Mig Aircraft Support GmbH was established with DASA holding a 50% stake. The company undertook the upgrade of the 24 Mig-29s to NATO standards. The aircraft were inherited from the former East Germany after the reunification of the country.
As part of the Eurofighter consortium DASA manufactured the centre fuselage sections of all the development aircraft, (DA) beginning with DA1 which made its first flight from DASA's Manching facility in March 1994. DASA was responsible for the mid life upgrade (MLU) of the German fleet of Panavia Tornados, similar to the RAF's GR4 upgrade.
Owing to its expertise with German and NATO aircraft DASA became an expert in upgrade of many allied aircraft, including the F-4 Phantom and the E-3 Sentry.
Renamed on January 1, 1995 to Daimler-Benz Aerospace AG, on November 7, 1998 to DaimlerChrysler Aerospace AG. Siemens Sicherungstechnik joined in 1997.
Transition to EADS
Defence consolidation became a major issue in 1998, with numerous reports linking various European defence groups — mainly with each other but also with American defence contractors.
It was widely anticipated that DASA would merge with British Aerospacpe (BAe) to form a pan-European aerospace giant, however BAe chose instead to merge with GEC’s defence electronics business, Marconi Electronic Systems. This move, to create a UK company compared to what would have been an Anglo-German firm, made the possibility of further penetration of the United States (US) defence market more likely.
On July 10, 2000 DASA merged with Aerospatiale-Matra of France and Construcciones Aeronáuticas SA (CASA) of Spain to form the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS.) The former DASA now operates as EADS Germany.
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