British Aerospace: Difference between revisions

British Aerospace inherited a number of live development programmes from its predecessors. Scottish Aviation was working on a project for a 19-seat turboprop airliner, an upgraded version of the [[Handley Page Jetstream]]. BAe placed the [[British Aerospace Jetstream|Jetstream 31]] into production after the first flight of the prototype in March 1980. At the same time, production of Hawker Siddeley's [[British Aerospace 125|HS 125]] business jet, [[Hawker Siddeley Harrier|Harrier]] VTOL jet fighter and [[Hawker Siddeley HS 748|HS 748]] turboprop airliner continued under BAe, as did that of the [[Hawker Siddeley Trident|Trident]] jet airliner for a short time. Similarly, low-rate production of the British Aircraft Corporation's [[BAC One-Eleven|One-Eleven]] jet airliner, the [[BAC Strikemaster|Strikemaster]] two-seat military jet trainer/attack aircraft, and the iconic [[Concorde]] supersonic airliner also continued.

On 29 July 1976, less than a year prior to BAe's formation, the contract for production of the first batch of the [[Panavia Tornado]], an advanced [[nuclear weapon|nuclear-capable]] fighter bomber, was signed.<ref name= 'Wellington'>Long, Wellington. [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BmAvAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2dwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5323,4133149&dq=tornado+bomber&hl=en "Swing-Wing Wonder Weapon Is Going Into Production."] ''Ludington Daily News,''24 August 1976.</ref> It was developed and produced via a multinational company, [[Panavia Aircraft GmbH]], of which BAe was one of several companies to be heavily involved.<ref name='segell124'>Segell 1997, p. 124.</ref><ref name= '104replac'>Morris, Joe Alex Jr. "Messerschmitt Back in Business". ''[[St. Petersburg Times]]''. 30 April 1969.</ref> On 10 July 1979, the [[maiden flight]] of a production Tornado occurred.<ref name="firstprdctn">{{cite web |url=https://www.panavia.de/nations/united-kingdom/ |title=Nations – United Kingdom |publisher=Panavia Aircraft GmbH |access-date=5 March 2019}}</ref> On 5 and 6 June 1979, the first aircraft were delivered to the RAF and [[German Air Force]] respectively.<ref>Middleton, Drew. [https://www.nytimes.com/1979/09/23/archives/west-germany-is-modernizing-military-forces-military-analysis.html "Military Analysis: West Germany Is Modernizing Military Forces."] ''The [[New York Times]],'' 23 September 1979. Retrieved 23 September 1979.</ref> On 25 September 1981, the first Italian Tornado was delivered.<ref>Parsons, Gary. [https://web.archive.org/web/20040718075035/http://www.airsceneuk.org.uk/hangar/1999/TTTE/ttte.htm "TTTEnd of an era."] ''airsceneuk.org.uk''. Retrieved 19 January 2011.</ref>

BAe developed several advanced models of the [[Harrier jump jet|Harrier]] family. In 1978, the [[Royal Navy]] received the first [[British Aerospace Sea Harrier|BAe Sea Harrier]] of an initial order for 24.<ref name="Bull 120">Bull 2004, p. 120.</ref><ref name="Grove">Grove 1987, pp. 319–320.</ref> The Sea Harrier was declared operational three years later, being initially embarked on both the first ''Invincible'' class aircraft carrier [[HMS Invincible (R05)|HMS ''Invincible'']], and the older [[HMS Hermes (R12)|HMS ''Hermes'']].<ref>{{cite journal |first= Terry |last= Ford |url= http://www.emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm?articleid=1683027&show=pdf |title= Sea Harrier – A New Dimension |journal= Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology |location= Bradford, England |publisher= Emerald Group Publishing |volume= 53 |issue= 6 |pages= 2–5 |year= 1981 |issn= 1758-4213 |doi= 10.1108/eb035729 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120405152509/http://www.emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm?articleid=1683027&show=pdf |archive-date= 5 April 2012 |df= dmy-all}}</ref> Following their decisive role in the 1982 [[Falklands War]],<ref>{{cite news |url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=T3MhAAAAIBAJ&pg=3796,8465827&dq=sea+harrier&hl=en |title= Sea Harrier changes face of air warfare |newspaper=Tri City Herald |first= Patrick J |last= Sloyan |date= 23 May 1982}}{{dead link|date=January 2014}}</ref> several of the lessons learnt from the conflict shaped a new upgrade programme for the fleet authorised in 1984, resulting in the ''Sea Harrier FRS.2'' (later known as ''FA2''). The first flight of the prototype took place in September 1988 and a contract was signed for 29 upgraded aircraft in December of that year.<ref name='janesx'>{{cite journal|url=http://defense-archive.teldan.com/Article/First-Flight-for-Sea-Harrier-FRS.aspx?sID=277683 |title=First Flight for Sea Harrier FRS2 |publisher=Janes Defense Weekly |volume=10 |issue=13 |page=767 |date=1 November 1988}}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> The Sea Harrier FA2 was fitted with the [[Blue Vixen]] radar, which was described as one of the most advanced [[pulse doppler radar]] systems in the world.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/harrier-high-206520/ |title= Harrier high |first= Craig |last= Hoyle |work= Flightglobal [[FlightGlobal]]|date= 9 May 2006 |access-date= 31 December 2013 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140101052343/http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/harrier-high-206520/ |archive-date= 1 January 2014 |df= dmy-all}}</ref>

In August 1981, BAe and the American aircraft manufacturer [[McDonnell Douglas]] signed a [[memorandum of understanding]] regarding the [[McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II]].<ref name=Wilson_p26>Wilson 2000, p.&nbsp;26.</ref> Under this agreement, BAe was effectively a [[subcontractor]] rather than a full partner, receiving 40 per cent of the airframe's work-share in terms of man-hours.<ref name=Wilson_p26/> Production took place at McDonnell Douglas' facilities in suburban [[St. Louis]], [[Missouri]], and manufacturing by BAe at its [[Kingston upon Thames|Kingston]] and [[Dunsfold]] facilities in [[Surrey]], England.<ref>Gaines 1985, p.&nbsp;148.</ref> The variant procured for the RAF, which was known as the [[British Aerospace Harrier II|BAe Harrier II]], featured many differences, including avionics fit, armaments and equipment; the wing of the GR5 featured a stainless steel leading edge, giving it different flex characteristics from the AV-8B.<ref>"Aerospace, Volume 20." ''Royal Aeronautical Society,'' 1993, p. 14.</ref> In December 1989, the first RAF squadron to be equipped with the Harrier II was declared operational.<ref name ="Nordeen 68">Nordeen 2006, p. 68.</ref>

In 1979, BAe officially joined the multinational aircraft manufacturer [[Airbus]] and acquired a 20% share in the venture,<ref>{{cite news |url = http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/news/business/757/ |work=[[The Seattle Times]] |title = A special report on the conception, design, manufacture, marketing and delivery of a new jetliner—the Boeing 757 |first = Peter |last = Rinearson |date = 19 June 1983}}</ref><ref name="airbus5">{{cite web |url = http://www.airbus.com/company/history/the-narrative/technology-leaders-1977-1979/ |publisher = Airbus |title = History – Technology leaders |access-date = 30 September 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150925104335/http://www.airbus.com/company/history/the-narrative/technology-leaders-1977-1979/ |archive-date = 2015-09-25 |url-status = dead }}</ref> the move effectively reversed a decision made ten years prior in which the UK government had withdrawn its support for the Airbus consortium. Airbus' first aircraft, the [[Airbus A300|A300]], had been received with little initial demand,<ref>{{cite magazine|url = http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,915633,00.html |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081215112454/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,915633,00.html |url-status = dead |archive-date = 15 December 2008 |title = Now, the Poor Man's Jumbo Jet |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date = 17 October 1977}}</ref> but orders for the airliner had picked up in the late 1970s.<ref>{{cite news|url = http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F50B11F93F5513728DDDAE0894DC405B888BF1D3 |title = Eastern accepts $778&nbsp;million deal to get 23 Airbuses |work=[[The New York Times]] |date = 7 April 1978 |first = Richard |last = Witkin}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DXgQAAAAIBAJ&pg=2954,5223070&dq=a300+airbus&hl=en |title = Airbus funds flow on |work=The Age |location=Australia |date = 11 December 1979 |first = Gerry |last = Carman}}{{dead link|date=June 2011}}</ref> By 1979, the consortium had 256 orders for A300,<ref name = 'Beebover'>{{cite news|url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/802741.stm |title = The Airbus fight to stay ahead |work=[[BBC News ]]|date = 23 June 2000 | access-date=4 September 2011}}</ref> and Airbus had launched its second airliner, the [[Airbus A310|A310]], less than 12 months prior to BAe formally joining the consortium.<ref name="airbus5"/> As time went on, it was becoming clear that Airbus was no longer a temporary collaboration to produce a single design as per its original mission statement; it had become a long-term brand for the development of further aircraft. By the late 1980s, work had begun on a pair of new wide-body airliners, the biggest to be produced at this point under the Airbus name; these would be launched in the 1990s as the [[Airbus A330]] and the [[Airbus A340]].<ref>Frawley, Gerald. "Airbus A330-200". "Airbus A330-300". ''The International Directory of Civil Aircraft, 2003/2004''. Aerospace Publications, 2003. {{ISBN|1-875671-58-7}}.</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Airbus faces critical decision in coming months |agency=Reuters |date=26 December 2001 |url= http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB36D3CA3B32C67&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM}}</ref>

On 26 September 1985, the UK and Saudi Arabian governments signed the [[Al-Yamamah arms deal]] with BAe as prime contractor. The contracts, extended in the 1990s and never fully detailed, involved the supply of [[Panavia Tornado]] strike and air defence aircraft, [[BAe Hawk]] trainer jets, [[Rapier missile]] systems, infrastructure works and naval vessels.<ref>{{cite news | first = Michael | last = Donne | title = BAe Hands Over First Part of Saudi Aircraft Order | work = [[Financial Times]] | page = 6 | date = 12 August 1987}}</ref> The Al Yamamah deals are valued at anything up to £20 billion and still continue to provide a large percentage of BAE Systems' profits.<ref>{{cite news | first = Nic| last = Fildes| url =http://business.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,13130-2319186,00.html | title =BAE confirms £5bn Eurofighter sale to Saudi Arabia | work =The Times| date =19 August 2006 | access-date =19 August 2006 | location=London}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last = Steiner | first = Rupert | title = BAE clinches new £2.5bn Tornado deal with Saudis | work= [[The Business (magazine)|The Business]] | date = 10 September 2006 | url = http://www.thebusinessonline.com/Stories.aspx?BAE%20clinches%20new%20%C2%A32.5bn%20Tornado%20deal%20with%20Saudis&StoryID=CCB0F5FD-9EAB-4177-ACEE-4288DA084899&SectionID=F3B76EF0-7991-4389-B72E-D07EB5AA1CEE | access-date = 12 September 2006 }}{{Dead link|date=September 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

In 1991, BAe acquired a 30% interest in [[Hutchison Telecommunications]] through a [[stock swap]] deal, where Hutchison was given a controlling stake of 65% in BAe's wholly owned subsidiary [[Microtel Communications Ltd]].<ref name=BAE-H-33>{{cite news |title=The Facts : 2004 |url= http://www.na.baesystems.com/PressKit/Facts.pdf |publisher =na.baesystems.com|page =107|access-date =9 June 2012|url-status =dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070125134301/http://www.na.baesystems.com/PressKit/Facts.pdf |archive-date =25 January 2007|df =dmy-all}}</ref><ref name=BAE-H-38/><ref name=OBS-H-04>{{cite web |url=http://licensing.ofcom.org.uk/radiocommunication-licences/mobile-wireless-broadband/cellular-wireless-broadband/policy-and-background/history-of-cellular-services/ |title=History of Cellular services |access-date=9 June 2012 |publisher=licensing.ofcom.org.uk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130205065028/http://licensing.ofcom.org.uk/radiocommunication-licences/mobile-wireless-broadband/cellular-wireless-broadband/policy-and-background/history-of-cellular-services/ |archive-date=5 February 2013}}</ref> In August 1991, BAe formed a naval systems joint venture, [[BAeSEMA]], with the [[Sema Group]].<ref name=BAE-H-33/> BAe acquired Sema's 50% share in 1998. That year also saw BAe begin to experience major difficulties. BAe saw its share price fall below 100p for the first time. On 9 September 1991, the company issued a profits warning and later that week "bungled" the launch of a £432 million [[rights issue]].<ref>{{cite news |first = Paul |last = Betts | title = Leader toppled by unstoppable momentum | work = Financial Times | page = 28 | date = 26 September 1991 <!--| access-date = 7 December 2006 -->}}</ref> On 25 September 1991 BAe directors led by CEO [[Richard Evans (businessman)|Richard Evans]] ousted the Chairman Professor Sir Roland Smith in a move described by ''[[The Independent]]'' as "one of the most spectacular and brutal boardroom coups witnessed in many years."<ref>{{cite news |first = Michael |last = Harrison |title = Roland Smith ousted by boardroom coup at BAe |work = [[The Independent ]]|publisher=Newspaper Publishing plc |page = 1 |date = 26 September 1991 <!--|access-date=7 December 2006 -->}}</ref> Evans described the troubles as a confluence of events:<ref>Evans, Richard (1999). ''Vertical Take-off'', p. 2. London: Nicholas Brealey Publishing. {{ISBN|1-85788-245-8}}.</ref>

* [[Avro 748|BAe Avro 748]] - (1960-presentlimited) - (Mid-size turboprop)

* [[British Aerospace 125]] - (1964-presentlimited) - (Mid-size business jet)

* [[Handley Page Victor|BAe Victor]] - (1952-1993) - (Strategic heavy bomber & aerial refueler)

* [[Avro Vulcan|BAe Avro vulcan]] - (1952-2015) - (Strategic heavy bomber)

* [[ALARM]] - (Air-to-surface anti-radiation missile)

* [[Rapier (missile)|Rapier]] - (Surface-to-air missile)

* [[Sea Dart]] - (Surface-to-air & surface-to-surface missile)

* [[Sea Eagle (missile)|Sea Eagle]] - (Surface-to-surface anti-ship missile)

* [[Sea Skua]] - (Air-to-surface anti-ship missile)

* [[Sea Wolf (missile)|Sea Wolf]] - (Surface-to-air missile)

* [[Skyflash]] - (Air-to-air missile)