Airbus to sell six defence and space units

Defence and Space division to concentrate on core activities of satellites, rocket launchers, military aircraft and missiles

Airbus Group is to sell six business units following a review of its Defence and Space division.

The group has decided that the division will now concentrate on its core activities of satellites, rocket launchers, military aircraft and missiles. It will invest and strengthen in these areas, the group said.

The review will see it sell six business units, which make up 15% of the defence and space division's sales, including Professional Mobile Radio, Fairchild Controls, Rostock System-Technik, AvDef, ESG and Atlas Elektronik.

Bernhard Gerwert, chief executive of Airbus Defence and Space, said: “Given the tight budgetary situation in our home countries and increasing competition on global markets, the portfolio review is an essential element to further develop our defence and space business and to ensure its competitiveness.

“We have identified those segments where this is an achievable target and those where we should explore alternative options. In short, the portfolio review is a logical next step in the overall transformation process. It will strengthen Airbus Defence and Space’s business core, unlocking its full potential to drive the defence and space industry forwards, particularly on critically important international growth markets.”

Airbus wants to identify potential buyers by the end of the year and complete disposals by mid-2015.