01/18/06
In 2005, Eurocopter successfully secured its position as the world's No. 1 helicopter manufacturer with a total of 401 orders for new military and civil helicopters. Compared to 2004, the company’s consolidated turnover increased by 15 % to a total of 3.21 billion euros, proving Eurocopter’s successful strategy of expanding its activities to emerging markets of the future.
Order Book
Orders could be placed for production helicopters as follows: 44 units of EC120 Colibri, 193 aircraft of the Ecureuil/Fennec/EC130 family, 87 EC135s, 20 EC145s, 25 aircraft of the Dauphin/Panther/EC155 family, 14 from the Super Puma/CougarEC225/EC725 family, 6 Tiger helicopters and 12 NH90s.
The number of consolidated orders taken (including Tiger and NH90), customer support services and R & D activities was valued at 3.52 billion euros. Eurocopter’s current backlog amounts up to 9.97 billion euros.
Order breakdown by value states a 42% share for serial helicopters, a 42% contribution of customer services and a 16% contribution of R&D activities in 2005.
Turnover
The turnover increased by 15 % in 2005, representing a total of 3.21 billion euros. In terms of sales value, main contributors were serial helicopters (55 %), Customer Support activities (31 %), as well as R & D and miscellaneous activities 14 %).
In his New Year's greetings to the Press, Eurocopter President Fabrice Brégier stated that "the number of helicopters and services sold throughout 2005 prove the success of our strategy to focus on emerging markets of the future by means of excellent products and fruitful industrial cooperation, combined with our efforts to constantly optimize our service network and customer orientation. Once again, we have shown that Eurocopter remains the benchmark in global helicopter business".
Lines of Growth
Eurocopter’s strategy for growth in 2005 was based on worldwide activities with a special focus on the following strategic markets:
Spain
In 2005, Eurocopter Spain became the third pillar of Eurocopter group. A formal contract concerning an HAD version of the Tiger was signed in Bonn. It comprises the development and production of a HAD version of Eurocopter Tiger, for both Spain and France, as well as the production of 18 HAD helicopters and the retrofit of 6 HAP aircraft for Spain. Apart from that, the industrial process for Spain was initiated in Eurocopter’s Albacete plant.
The Spanish Ministry of Internal Affairs has expressed its firm intention to purchase a total of 51 aircraft of Eurocopter’s world best-seller EC135. Last, but not least the Spanish Armed Forces decided to buy 45 units of the NH90.
United States of America
In 2005, Eurocopter could book a quantity of 122 firm orders in the U.S. and was assigned to perform the most comprehensive upgrade program for the Dauphin series ever by the U.S. Coast Guard.
Having formed a strategic partnership with EADS North America, Sikorsky, WestWind and CAE, American Eurocopter offers the best product (UH 145) and service package to fulfil all requirements implied in the current tender for the LUH (Light Utility Helicopter) procurement program of the U.S. Armed Forces, comprising 322 aircraft in total.
China
Eurocopter and Chinese AVIC II Corporation launched the joint development and industrialization of the EC175, a civil helicopter in the 6 ton category that will round off either partner’s product ranges.
The five-year development phase will be kicked off early in 2006. The new civil helicopter is due to make its first flight in 2009, with European and Chinese certification set for 2011, the year in which production is due to start. Each of the two companies will invest 300 million euros to develop the new helicopter. Production will be shared on a 50/50 basis and each country will have its own assembly line. Sales forecasts for this latest-generation helicopter call for 800 to be sold worldwide over the next 20 years.
The project guarantees more than 30 years activities and the creation of 2,000 high tech jobs for Eurocopter and the company's partners. The arrival of this new helicopter on the world market will ensure Eurocopter's expansion in the next 20 years, the program being worth close to 10 billion euros.
South Korea
The Korean Government chose Eurocopter as the primary partner of Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) in the new KHP program for the development of Korea's first military transport helicopter in the 8 metric ton class. The 6-year KHP development phase will run from 2006 to 2011. In the following 10-year production phase, 245 helicopters are to be manufactured. As the primary partner of KAI, Eurocopter has a stake of 30% in the development phase and 20% in the production phase. This program is path-breaking for Eurocopter, as the company clearly takes the lead in a previously American dominated Asian market. Eurocopter and KAI have agreed to set up a 50/50 subsidiary to market the export version of the KHP helicopter. Forecasted needs for this utility helicopter on the world market are set at 250 machines over 20 years.
Japan
Recently established subsidiary Eurocopter Japan won an open competition to equip the Japanese coast guard with EC225 helicopters. Being a well-proven, powerful system in the 11 metric ton class with a renowned price/performance ratio, Eurocopter’s EC225, the latest member of the Super Puma family, proved to be best suited for the mission requirements of
the Japanese governmental authorities. Earlier in 2005, Eurocopter was chosen to provide the future helicopter for the Japanese Emperor’s VIP flight service. These deals underline the reputation of Eurocopter as the best provider of state-of-the-art offshore capable helicopters and service packages.
India
Eurocopter established a new office in New Delhi in order to be present in one of the world’s most strategic markets with a very promising long-term potential for Eurocopter’s growth through sales and industrial cooperation, following up on the company’s long tradition of working closely with Indian Aviation industry for decades.
Major military programs
TIGER
Eurocopter’s leading-edge combat helicopter Tiger, ordered in a total quantity of 206 aircraft by various Armed forces around the world, among those being at present France (80), Germany (80), Spain (24) and Australia (22), entered delivery stage not only in Australia, but also in Germany and France after the acceptance of UHT (March 16) and HAP (March 18) as well as Spain.
In total, Eurocopter delivered a total of 11 aircraft in 2005 (5 for France and Spain, 4 for Germany and 2 for Australia). The newly established, multinational Tiger pilot school at Le Luc has started training operations.
The industrial process for the new Spanish Tiger version HAD was initiated by the signing of a respective contract in November 2005.
NH90
Ordered or selected by fourteen countries (France, Finland, Germany, Greece, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Sultanate of Oman, Australia, Sweden, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain and Belgium), Eurocopter’s most modern multi-role helicopter is designed to fulfill the operational requirements of armed forces worldwide. Its success is attributed to the aircraft’s full level system integration, combined with the most versatile role capability ever achieved by a helicopter. The NH90 has proven as no other helicopter a program that is based of multi-national cooperation and partnership with local industry in the purchasing countries. It is the worldwide benchmark for export success of military helicopters. In 2005, the first NH90 produced in Finland as well as the first Swedish high-cabin version successfully performed their maiden flights. Lately, GAMSTAT has also positively evaluated the NH90.
PROSPECTS FOR 2006
In 2006, Eurocopter intends to further increase its turnover and consolidate its worldwide market leadership.
Fully aligned to EADS 3-I-Policy for future growth, Eurocopter will focus on Innovation (EC175/KHP), Internationalization (Spain, China, Korea) and Improvement (Entry into Service of TIGER/Acceptance of NH90 TTH version).
Thus, Eurocopter intends to maintain its technological edge, the main prerequisite for sustainable development, as is the company's strategic deployment, which is also to be continued in 2006.
Eurocopter is a wholly-owned subsidiary of EADS. EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2004, EADS generated revenues of € 31.8 billion and employed a workforce of about 110,000. The EADS Group includes the aircraft manufacturer Airbus, the world's largest helicopter supplier Eurocopter and the joint venture MBDA, the international leader in missile systems. EADS is the major partner in the Eurofighter consortium, is the prime contractor for the Ariane launcher, develops the A400M military transport aircraft and is the largest industrial partner for the European satellite navigation system Galileo.
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