BAE Systems has a proud heritage that dates back to manned flight and early wireless communications. From the early days when pioneer A.V. Roe built his first aeroplane that flew little farther than the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk to the wireless telegraph operators who saved hundreds by getting the distress signal out from the Titanic to the perilous World War II bombing missions over Europe in Lancaster bombers to the inaugural flight of the world’s first vertical takeoff fighter to the total systems integration solutions today’s civil and military customers need, BAE Systems’ heritage of evolution and mergers have created a global leader that has a proud past and an eye toward the future.

1970s

• April 1977 - British Aerospace (BAe) formed as a nationalised corporation by the merger of British Aircraft Corporation, Hawker Siddeley Aviation, Hawker Siddeley Dynamics and Scottish Aviation.

1980s

• January 1981 - British Aerospace formed as a public limited company (PLC), acquiring the assets and business of the nationalised corporation.
• February 1981 - UK Government sold 51.57% of its shares to public. Foreign shareholding initially limited to 15%. (Later raised to 29.5%).
• May 1982 - Sperry Gyroscope acquired (£42 million).
• 1982 - Sowerby Research Centre established at Filton, Bristol as BAe's scientific research organisation.
• May 1985 - UK Government sold its remaining BAe shares but kept special £1 share to ensure Company continues under UK control.
• April 1987 - Royal Ordnance plc acquired (£190 million).
• August 1987 - Steinheil Optronik GmbH acquired (£17 million).
• December 1987 - Ballast Nedam Group acquired (£47 million).
• During 1987 - BAe invested in Reflectone Inc, current holding 52.7%; and System Designers plc (24%), renamed SD-Scicon plc.
• August 1988 - The Rover Group plc acquired (£150 million), renamed Rover Group Holdings plc.
• November 1988 - Steinheil Optronik acquired 30% interest in Competence Center Informatik GmbH.
• January 1989 - British Aerospace plc became HQ management organisation controlling wholly-owned subsidiaries, each marketing its own specialised products under its own name.
• March 1989 - National Remote Sensing Centre Ltd formed to integrate and commercialise the operations of the National Remote Sensing Centre and the Earth Observation Data Centre.
• August 1989 - Limit on foreign shareholding raised to 29.5% Arlington Securities Plc acquired (£278 million).

1990 - 1995

• January 1990 - Spectrum Technologies Ltd formed by BAe Starbird Satellite Services Ltd established as a partnership with Worldwide Television News.
• March 1990 - Bishopsgate Systems Ltd acquired for £6 million.
• April 1990 - Microtel Communications Ltd formed. Honda acquired 20% interest in Rover Group Ltd in exchange for a 20% reciprocal holding by Rover in Honda of the UK Manufacturing Limited.
• May 1990 - Ballast Nedam Construction formed and acquired major parts of the business of Rush and Tompkins. British Aerospace (Liverpool Airport) Ltd formed and acquired 76% shareholding in Liverpool Airport plc. 49% interest acquired in Kelsey Instruments Ltd. 51% shareholding acquired in Satellite Management International Ltd.
• July 1990 - Nanoquest Defence Products Ltd formed and acquired the Nanoquest Products Division of Bio-Rad Laboratories, USA.
• December 1990 - British Aerospace-Ansett Flying College Pty Ltd formed as a joint venture to establish a pilot training service in Australia.
• January 1991 - British Aerospace Systems and Equipment Limited established as a separate trading company.
• March 1991 - Heckler & Koch GmbH, the German small arms, machine tool and general engineering company, acquired.
• May 1991 - London Business Aviation Limited formed.
• June 1991 - Euroflag srl formed in Rome as a European joint venture company to design, develop and build a new medium lift military transport aircraft.
• July 1991 - Shareholding in SD-Scicon plc sold. 30% interest acquired in Hutchison Telecommunications (UK) Ltd in exchange for BAe's wholly-owned subsidiary Microtel Communications Ltd.
• August 1991 - BAeSEMA Ltd formed as a joint venture company with the Sema Group. Muiden Chemie, a Dutch ammunition propellant manufacturer, acquired by Royal Ordnance.
• January 1992 - British Aerospace Defence Limited began trading as a wholly-owned subsidiary of BAe on 1st January 1992. The three previously separate defence companies Ð British Aerospace (Military Aircraft) Ltd, British Aerospace (Dynamics) Ltd and Royal Ordnance plc, plus Systems and Services Division now operate as divisions of British Aerospace Defence Ltd.
• February 1992 - Three new wholly-owned companies, formed to replace British Aerospace (Commercial Aircraft) Ltd; British Aerospace Airbus Limited, British Aerospace Regional Aircraft Limited and British Aerospace Corporate Jets Limited.
• April 1992 - British Manufacture & Research Limited (BMARC), producer of medium-calibre guns and ammunition, acquired. Aerostructures Hamble Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary, sold.
• May 1992 - British Aerospace Corporate Jets Limited renamed Corporate Jets Limited.
• June 1992 - The businesses of Bishopsgate Systems Ltd, Satellite Management International Ltd and Starbird Satellite Services Ltd consolidated into British Aerospace Communications Ltd. British Aerospace Communications Ltd to trade as a company separate from British Aerospace Space Systems Ltd.
• September 1992 - British Aerospace and the Taiwan Aerospace Corporation signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to form a 50/50 joint venture to produce Avro RJ Regional Jets.
• October 1992 - Assembly of the ATP aircraft transferred to Prestwick, Scotland and became part of the Jetstream family of regional turboprop aircraft. Jetstream Aircraft Limited formed.
• November 1992 - A major restructuring of the communications business took place to reduce British AerospaceÕs involvement and halt its investment in a non-core business. British Aerospace Communications Limited ceased trading.
• April 1993 - Shareholding in Kelsey Instruments Ltd sold.
• June 1993 - Sale agreed of British Aerospace Corporate Jets Ltd, and Arkansas Aerospace Inc to Raytheon Company.
• July 1993 - Legal structure changed with the formation of British Aerospace (Operations) Ltd, British Aerospace (Dynamics) Ltd and Jetstream Holdings Ltd.
• August 1993 - British Aerospace plc finalises a £1.5 billion five-year revolving credit facility to refinance its existing bank lines and extend its debt maturity profile.
• October 1993 - British Aerospace (Dynamics) and GEC-Marconi form a joint venture company, UKAMS Limited, to manage and develop their involvement in the naval Principal Anti-Air Missile System (PAAMS) guided weapons project.
• December 1993 - Sale agreed of Ballast Nedam BV to a consortium of Hochtief AG, Internationale Nederlanden Group and the Ballast Nedam Pension Fund.
• March 1994 - Sale agreed of Rover Group to BMW AG. British Aerospace signs agreement with CSC for the provision of IT services. Sale agreed of 80% of Spectrum Technologies Limited. British Aerospace plc retains 20%.
• June 1994 - British Aerospace changes funding of 30% shareholding in Hutchison Telecommunications (UK) Ltd by way of a £250 million interest bearing credit to Hutchison Telecom.
• July 1994 - British Aerospace property management reorganised with the formation of BAe Properties Ltd. Sale agreed of British Aerospace (Space Systems) Ltd to Matra Marconi Space for £56million. British Aerospace (Dynamics) and Constructions Mecaniques de Normandie (CMN) sign an agreement covering the integration and marketing of BAe guided weapons on the CMN range of naval vessels.
• December 1994 - Airbus Finance Company (AFC) begins trading following the launch of a US$1.5 billion revolving credit facility transaction.

1995 - 1999

• January 1995 - Subsidiary, Nanoquest Defence Products Limited becomes part of British Aerospace Systems and Equipment Limited. Farnborough Supercomputing Centre, a collaborative venture by the Defence Research Agency, British Aerospace plc, GEC Marconi Ltd and Cray Research (UK) Ltd, is opened. Proposed joint venture in Regional Aircraft with Aerospatiale and Alenia is announced.
• March 1995 - Portfolio of retail, commercial and leisure properties sold for £107m.
• June 1995 - British Aerospace and Saab Military Aircraft sign joint marketing and production agreement to offer JAS 39 Gripen in the export market.
• August 1995 - British Aerospace announces the sale of its 50% shareholding in The Burwood House Group plc to ASDA Group plc.
• December 1995 - British Aerospace Defence Ltd and Dassault Aviation sign a Memorandum of Agreement for the establishment of a joint-venture company in the field of military aircraft technology.
• January 1996 - The Regional Aircraft joint venture, Aero International (Regional), begins operations. British Aerospace forms new Asset Management Division incorporating AMO and JSX.
• April 1996 - British Aerospace plc announces the acquisition of AWADI, an Australian defence company, for A$50 million.
• May 1996 - British Aerospace and Matra agree terms for the formation of a missiles joint venture.
• June 1996 - AMO and JSX renamed Asset Management-Jets (AMJ) and Asset Management-Turboprops (AMT) Respectively, operating organisations of British Aerospace Asset Management. British Aerospace opens new subsidiary company, British Aerospace Deutschland GmbH, in Bonn.
• August 1996 - British Aerospace plc announces it has signed an agreement with Lagadere Groupe SCA to form a joint venture in guided weapons, guided weapon systems and related activities. Joint venture to be called Matra BAe Dynamics. British Aerospace Australia acquires remaining 50% of the Australian Air Academy, its business activities will be co-ordinated with those of British Aerospace Flying College British Aerospace Flying College and Australian Air Academy renamed British Aerospace Flight Training (UK) Ltd and British Aerospace Flight Training (Australia) Pty Ltd respectively.
• September 1996 - Royal Ordnance and Oerlikon-Contraves AG Defence sign a collaborative agreement to develop, market and jointly manufacture the 35mm Millennium Inner Layer Ship Defence System. British Aerospace Australia acquires the Shorts (Northern Ireland) armoured vehicle business.
• January 1997 - Partners of Airbus Industrie sign an MoU to restructure Airbus Industrie into a limited liability company, a single corporate entity (SCE).
• March 1997 - British Aerospace Royal Ordnance, GIAT Industries (France) and Rheinmetall (Germany) set up a joint venture company, RGR Armament GmbH, to develop tank main armament.
• April 1997 - British Aerospace and Lockheed Martin Corporation form an international team (SIKA) to compete to develop the solution for Tactical Reconnaissance Armoured Combat Equipment Requirement/Future Scout Cavalry System (TRACER/FSCS); the team includes Vickers and General Dynamics Land Systems.
• May 1997 - Reflectone Inc, which designs, manufactures and sells flight simulators and systems, becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of British Aerospace plc. British Aerospace Training Systems invests in the newly formed Oasis International Leasing Company. British Aerospace announces it is to end production of Jetstream 41 turboprop aircraft.
• June 1997 - British Aerospace joins Lockheed Martin's Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) team.
• July 1997 - British Aerospace acquires 49% of STN Atlas Elektronik GmbH, the German based systems integration business for approximately £90 million.
• October 1997 - Matra BAe Dynamics agrees acquisition of a 30% interest in German guided weapons business LFK, a subsidiary of Daimler Benz Aerospace. British Aerospace signs agreement to acquire Siemens Plessey Systems (UK) and Siemens Plessey Electronics Systems (Australia) for approximately £319 million subsequent to regulatory approval.
• November 1997 - British Aerospace forms new business unit British Aerospace Defence Systems from 50% shareholding in BAeSEMA, 49% shareholding in STN Atlas and other company defence systems activities, including Siemens Plessey Systems subject to completion.
• December 1997 - British Aerospace sign a Co-operation Agreement with Kazanah Nasional Berhad of Malaysia to develop Malaysia's capability in design and manufacture of aerospace products.
• March 1998 - British Aerospace disposes of its 26.1% interest in Orion Network Systems Inc for $143 million in cash. British Aerospace reduces its shareholding in Orange plc with the disposal of shares representing 16.11% in Orange plc for £763.8 million. British Aerospace retains a 5% interest in Orange.
• April 1998 - British Aerospace completes the acquisition of Siemens Plessey Systems (SPS) from Siemens AG following regulatory approval. SPS renamed British Aerospace Defence Systems Limited. Aero International (Regional) partners British Aerospace, Aerospatiale and Alenia agree on company dissolution. British Aerospace agrees the acquisition of a 35% interest in Saab AB, the Swedish aerospace and defence company, for £269 million subject to regulatory approvals. British Aerospace founds its Virtual University. The Virtual University will link education, training and development for the British Aerospace workforce with the acquisition of new technologies and strategic research. Foreign shareholding limit raised to 49.5% with a new limit of 15% on the number of Ordinary Shares which any single foreign owner may hold.
• June 1998 -British Aerospace plc finalises a £750m revolving credit facility to refinance its existing facility and fund corporate projects.
• July 1998 - UKAMS becomes a wholly-owned subsidiary of Matra BAe Dynamics.
• September 1998 - British Aerospace and Rolls Royce jointly invest £1.5million in partnership agreement with the Universities of Cambridge, Sheffield and Southampton to research into future engineering design processes. British Aerospace agrees the acquisition of the remaining 50% shareholding in BAeSEMA from SEMA Group for £77m including the 51% shareholding that SEMA holds in Paradigm subject to regulatory approval. British Aerospace and Dassault Aviation SA forms European Aerosystems Ltd based on the joint venture previously announced in December 95.
• October 1998 - British Aerospace announces sale of Arlington Securities, its property development subsidiary, to a consortium led by PRICOA Property Investment Management for £285m. British Aerospace subsidiary Royal Ordnance sells its liquid engines business to Atlantic Research Corporation, USA.
• November 1998 - British Aerospace completes its £77m purchase of the remaining 50% share of BAeSEMA.
• January 1999 - British Aerospace and GEC agree to create a global aerospace and defence company merging British Aerospace with GEC's Marconi Electronic Systems business. BAeSEMA and Defence Systems Limited merge to create Land and Sea Systems, part of the Defence Systems Group.
• February 1999 - British Aerospace combines its Construction Management and Ground Systems teams with Consultancy Services to form British Aerospace Aviation and Construction Consultancy.
• May 1999 - british Aerospace and Sumitomo Precision Products form joint venture company, Silicon Sensing Systems, to exploit silicon motion sensing technology.
• June 1999 - British Aerospace launches a seven-year bond exchangeable for the company's remaining 5% stake in Orange plc.
• October 1999 - British Aerospace Aviation Services signs global teaming agreement with AVBORNE Heavy Maintenance Inc, USA to co-operate in the maintenance support of A300B4 Freighters for operators in North America. British Aerospace and Finmeccanica sign Heads of Agreement to expand AMS to include British Aerospace's activities in surface-based radar, land and naval systems. British Aerospace, Finmeccanica and Aerospatiale Matra sign Heads of Agreement to establish a JV to include Matra BAe Dynamics and the missiles systems division of AMS.
• November 1999 - British Aerospace and Marconi Electronic Systems merged. The company is called BAE SYSTEMS.
• December 1999 - BAE SYSTEMS announces the acquisition of Govan shipyard on the Clyde in Scotland, from Kvaerner. The agreement establishes Clydeport plc as landlords of the site with BAE SYSTEMS leasing the land and the buildings for 20 years. BAE SYSTEMS Regional Aircraft expanded to include the previous Asset Management organisation.

2000 - Present

• January 2000 - BAE SYSTEMS North America acquires Watkins-Johnson Telecommunications Group. Regional Aircraft announces new Web-based maintenance and reliability system.
• February 2000 - BAE SYSTEMS North America acquires Femtometrics. BAE SYSTEMS North America sells its Marconi Actuation Systems Inc subsidiary to Smiths Industries Aerospace for the price of $100 million. In compliance with the British Aerospace/Marconi Electronic Systems merger undertakings regarding restriction of the continuing use of the Marconi name and creation of separate shipbuilding subsidiary Marconi Marine (VSEL) Limited, Barrow and Marconi Marine (YSL) Limited, Scotstoun were renamed BAE SYSTEMS Marine Limited and BAE SYSTEMS Marine (YSL) Limited, respectively.
• March 2000 - Regional Aircraft launches Avro RJX programme.
• April 2000 - Industrial and Financial Systems AB (IFS) and BAE SYSTEMS announce their intention to form a joint venture software and solutions company.
• May 2000 - Regional Aircraft launches Jetstream 41 MACRO (Material And Component Repair and Overhaul) programme. Matra Marconi Space merges with the space division of DaimlerChrysler Aerospace to become Astrium, Europe’s leading space company, owned ultimately 75% by EADS and 25% by BAE SYSTEMS.
• June 2000 - BAE SYSTEMS in conjunction with its Airbus partners, announces the formation of a new Airbus Integrated Company (AIC). In compliance with undertakings to the Office of Fair Trading (OFT), the assets of BAE SYSTEMS Marine (YSL) Limited were transferred to BAE SYSTEMS Marine Limited which remains part of BAE SYSTEMS but with special trading status. BAE SYSTEMS Marine Limited is now a separate, wholly-owned subsidiary of BAE SYSTEMS. It comprises Marine’s shipyard activities at Barrow, Scotstoun and Govan, trading with its own resources and separate profit and loss accounts and with the ability to supply to parent company or alternative prime contractors on a fair and equitable basis. Regional Aircraft and West Air Sweden launch ATP Freighter programme.
• July 2000 - Regional Aircraft launches new Trading and Services Business. Aviation Services launches the Total Maintenance Support Solutions (TMSS™) service for Airbus operators.
• September 2000 - BAE SYSTEMS North America acquires Lockheed Martin Control Systems Regional Aircraft starts final assembly of the first Nimrod MRA4 aircraft.
• November 2000 - BAE SYSTEMS acquires Lockheed Martin Aerospace Electronic Systems (AES)
• December 2000 - Regional Aircraft awarded contract to provide support for an Atmospheric Research Aircraft to 2012. Creation of Aircraft Services Group by the merger of Aviation Services and Regional Aircraft.
• April 2001 - BAE SYSTEMS, EADS and Finmeccanica announce they have signed an agreement to form a joint venture in missile systems. Joint venture to be called MBDA. First flight of Avro RJX Regional Jet on 28th April 2001 BAE SYSTEMS sells BAE SYSTEMS Canada Inc. to ONCAP BAE SYSTEMS sells Flight Simulation and Training Inc. to CAE Canada
• May 2001 - BAE SYSTEMS and Xchanging Ltd form togethr
• July 2001 - New Airbus integrated company formed called Airbus SAS. BAE SYSTEMS holds 20%.
• September 2001 - AMS acquires Airport Systems International inc and Gematronik GmbH.
• December 2001 - MBDA SAS created through the merger of Matra Bae Dynamics, Aerospatiable Matra Missile and the guided weapons business of AMS on 18th December. BAE SYSTEMS holds 37.5%. New AMS joint venture created through the merger of existing AMS joint venture with the Combat and Radar Systems business on 18th December 2001. The new business is equally owned by Finmeccanica and BAE SYSTEMS.
• March 2002 - BAE SYSTEMS sells jetstream 31 to highland airways.
• April 2002 - BAE SYSTEMS North America completes the sale of its Camouflage, Concealment and Deception (CCD) business, located at Lillington, North Carolina.
• May 2002 - BAE SYSTEMS Regional Aircraft and MESABA Airlines launch joint maintenance facility, located in Cincinnati, Ohio. BAE SYSTEMS and De Havilland Support Ltd (DHSL) sign a Heads of Agreement to transfer technical responsibility for the Scottish Aviation Bulldog aircraft, from BAE SYSTEMS Regional Aircraft to DHSL.
• July 2002 - BAE SYSTEMS extends its partnership with McLaren for five years. BAE SYSTEMS and Segway LLC form a partnership to market the Segway? Human Transporter (HT) in the UK. to the aerospace and defence industry in the United Kingdom. BAE SYSTEMS and Boeing sign missile defence memorandum of understanding. BAE SYSTEMS and EADS form joint venture company, Paradigm Secure Communications Limited.
• August 2002 - BAE SYSTEMS North America completes the sale of expendable defensive countermeasures business, located in Lillington, N.C., and East Camden, Ark. The negotiated $67.5 million cash sale to Esterline Technologies was originally announced July 15. Closing of the sale followed completion of regulatory reviews and approvals.
• September 2002 - Transfer of technical responsibility for all Scottish Aviation Bulldog aircraft from BAE SYSTEMS Regional Aircraft at Prestwick to de Havilland Support Ltd (DHSL). BAE SYSTEMS and VT Group acquire Johnson Controls Limited's 26% share of Flagship Training Limited (Flagship). Both companies had previously held a 37% share in Flagship but this agreement now provides for 50/50 joint ownership.
• October 2002 - BAE SYSTEMS signs historic co-operation agreement with VT and Babcock for the Future Aircraft Carriers
• November 2002 - BAE SYSTEMS North America completes the sale of its Advanced Systems’ Gaithersburg operation to Integrated Defense Technologies, Inc. for $146 million. BAE SYSTEMS North America completes acquisition of Corbett Technologies, Inc., for $15.
• December 2002 - BAE SYSTEMS plc completes the sale of Heckler & Koch small arms business to Heckler & Koch Beteiligungs GmbH. BAE SYSTEMS North America acquires Condor Pacific Industries Inc., for $58.5 million.
• January 2003 - BAE SYSTEMS and HISPANO-SUIZA create FADEC international, a joint venture to provide commercial aircraft engine controls. The U.S. Navy award BAE SYSTEMS a $298 million contract for continued support of the Navy’s Aegis Combat System. BAE SYSTEMS awarded a contract worth over £150 million from the UK MOD for the continuation of the Harrier GR9 sustainment and upgrade programme. MOD selects BAE SYSTEMS as UK Aircraft Carrier prime contractor.
• February 2003 - BAE SYSTEMS North America announces that it has reached a definitive agreement to purchase all of the stock of MEVATEC Corporation of Huntsville, Alabama for $82 million. BAE SYSTEMS C4ISR enters discussions with Northrop Grumman to join the Northrop Grumman-led international team that was down-selected by the UK Defence Procurement Agency (DPA) to fulfil one of two Systems Integration Assurance Phase (SIAP) contracts for the next stage of the £800+ million WATCHKEEPER programme. Regional Aircraft wins a five-year JetSpares contract with British Airways CitiExpress, expected to generate revenues in the region of £19 million over the five-year period. BAE SYSTEMS North America reaches a definitive agreement with Advanced Power Technologies, Inc. (APTI), to purchase the corporation for $27 million in cash. BAE SYSTEMS announces agreement with the UK MOD to re-structure Nimrod and Astute contracts.
• March 2003 - BAE SYSTEMS North America completes acquisition of MEVATEC Corporation of Huntsville, Alabama, for $82 million. BAE SYSTEMS North America completes acquisition of Advanced Power Technologies, Inc for $27 million.
• April 2003 - BAE SYSTEMS CS&S Operational Services acquires Piper Group. Gripen Venture Capital AB (50%) was acquired
• May 2003 - BAE Systems sells 27.5% (economic interest) in Astrium NV
• June 2003 - Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems to partner on Missile Defence
• July 2003 - BAE Systems and Finmeccanica move to establish a major European partnership.
• August 2003 - BAE Systems and Rheinmetall agree restructuring of STN Atlas joint venture. Atlas Elektronik GmbH acquires the Naval Systems and Production activities of the STN Atlas Joint Venture. BAE Systems agrees to purchase GKN’s 29% stake in Alvis plc.
• September 2003 - BAE Systems sells interest in Aeronautical Technologies Company Limited Holding S.A. (Luxembourg) and Advanced Technologies and Engineering International Ltd (Hong Kong). BAE Systems completes purchase of GKN’s 29% stake in Alvis plc.
• November 2003 - BAE Systems sells Flight Training (Europe), SL and BAE Systems Flight Training (Services), SL to an in-house management team. BAE Systems and Boeing sign Tanker MOU. BAE Systems completes sale of Acoustics systems facility to Ultra Electronics.
• December 2003 - The UK MOD and BAE Systems sign £82m Tornado contract. The UK MOD Awards £207m VC10 contract to BAE Systems.
• January 2004 - BAE Systems and Geotopo establish mentor-protégé relationship. The UK MOD awards BAE Systems £100m Harrier GR9 contract.
• March 2004 - BAE Systems Hawk trainer – India implementation MOU signed. BAE Systems and Finmeccanica achieve an important milestone in the Eurosystems transaction.
• April 2004 - BAE Systems to purchase STI government systems Atlas Elektronik GmbH acquires the business of Maridan ApS.
• May 2004 - BAE Systems North America completes Acquisition of STI Government Systems for $27 million. BAE Systems Spectral Solutions LLC acquired.
• June 2004 - Recommended cash offer for Alvis Plc by Goldman Sachs International on behalf of BAE Systems Plc and (in the United States) by BAE Systems Plc
• July 2004 - BAE Systems North America reaches definitive agreement to acquire Boeing’s Commercial Electronics unit.
• August 2004 - BAE Systems completes acquisition of Boeing commercial electronics unit BAE Systems completes acquisition of Practical Imagineering Inc. for $8.3 million cash. Acquisition of Alvis plc completed. Acquisition of remaining 50% of Aerosystems International Ltd from GKN plc. Acquisition of remaining 50% of Euromandarin Ltd from First Mandarin Limited.
• September 2004 - BAE Systems creates a new Land Systems business through the bringing together of Alvis and RO Defence. BAE Systems North America, enters into a definitive merger agreement to acquire DigitalNet Holdings Inc. BAE Systems North America, enters into a definitive merger agreement to acquire ALPHATECH for a cash consideration of $88.4 million.
• October 2004 - BAE Systems and Finmeccanica agree in principle a revised structure for the Eurosystems transaction. The revised structure will enable BAE Systems to bring together its systems integration activities into a new wholly-owned business comprising the UK operations of AMS, currently a 50/50 joint venture with Finmeccanica, and BAE Systems’ C4ISR Networked Systems & Solutions business. In addition, BAE Systems and Finmeccanica will form a new Avionics business comprising BAE Systems’ UK avionics activities and Finmeccanica’s Galileo Avionica business. BAE Systems will hold a 25% interest in this new entity. BAE Systems North America completes the acquisition of DigitalNet Holdings Inc. for $30.25 per share or approximately $600 million in cash.
• November 2004 - BAE Systems North America completes its acquisition of ALPHATECH, Inc., for a cash consideration of $88.4 million. Raven Alliance and BAE Systems sign Statement of Understanding for electronic warfare support.
• December 2004 - SAAB takes increased marketing responsibility for Gripen Fighter Aircraft and BAE Systems intends to reduce its shareholding in SAAB.
• January 2005 - BAE Systems and Finmeccanica sign Eurosystems transaction agreement.
• March 2005 - BAE Systems awarded an $834 million dollar contract for full-rate production of the M777A1 Howitzer. Reduced shareholding in SAAB to 20.5%
• April 2005 - Further to the announcement in January 2005, BAE Systems plc announces the completion of the EuroSystems transaction agreed with Finmeccanica SpA.