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Home | Update | Latest Issue | Gallery | FR Profile | Datafiles | FR 5/97 CONCENTRATION PLEASE by Wolfdietrich Hoeveler Shaping up for the global competition is the motto according to which the large aerospace concerns are currently pushing the international restructuring of their branch. In Europe, the national industries must be consolidated along with setting up a real Airbus company. The Airbus partners plan to have evaluated by the end of this year which of their subdivisions are going to be merged into the new company. The restructuring is to begin in 1998 and in 1999 the new Airbus company will supposedly stand on its own feet. This sounds good realizing that time is short due to the merger of Boeing and McDonnell Douglas. However, concerning Germany's aerospace industry, two questions should be asked: What is going to happen to those divisions of Daimler-Benz Aerospace which are not becoming a part of the new Airbus company, and what effects does the Airbus restructuring have on the subcontractors and supplying industry? These are critical questions since the prerequisites for the survival of Germany's national aerospace industry are not as good as in other European countries. The British industry is in a very good situation, backed by participations in the most important military programs on both sides of the Atlantic. The situation in France is more complex but not really any worse. The merging and privatization of Aérospatiale and Dassault is to be finalized this year. For 1998 the aircraft manufacturers have a joint future with Thomson-CSF on their wishlist. After that, the restructuring of Airbus Industrie is on the priority list. In Germany, the procurement of the Eurofighter is facing further political delays, not even to mention the necessary decisions for the successor of the Transall transport aircraft or for the production of the Tiger and NH90 helicopters. If the standstill continues the Dasa management will have no choice: withdrawal through divestment and mergers. This is the perspective for those Dasa divisions which will not be part of the new Airbus concern. Keeping this in mind explains the repeated suggestions from France to create a large European aerospace concern. If the German defence ministry is not making the overdue decisions soon, by 1999 there will be one system leader in France and one in Great Britain and none in Germany. This means that European overcapacities would be cut in Germany. The German government would then have to buy equipment for the Luftwaffe in other countries. What to do? Before the restructuring of Airbus continues the government must make a decision about the new fighter for the Luftwaffe. It may even become necessary to make a so far not thought of national single-handed effort which could give some room to maneuver in the current financial situation. Initiatives could come from both, the industry as well as from the government. This could be an interim solution with an American partner which would help the Luftwaffe in the short and medium term. The co-production of an American fighter and a stretched procurement of the Eurofighter could save national capacities in military aircraft manufacture. This is a basic plan which would at least warrant the partial survival of this high-technology branch. It would also not interfere with the European cooperation in the Airbus production. Bonn is called to concentrate on the own industry before going on the trip to Europe and the world. From page 4 of FLUG REVUE 5/97 Home | Update | Latest Issue | Gallery | FR Profile | Datafiles | FR 5/97 Copyright 1997 by Motor-Presse Stuttgart. All rights reserved. Last updated March 30, 1997