BAE Systems Land & Armaments history

Bristol Aeroplane was founded in 1910 as the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company.

A year later BAC, Hawker Siddeley Aviation, Hawker Siddeley Dynamics, and Scottish Aviation (formed in 1935) were taken into public ownership as British Aerospace.

Postwar innovations in military aircraft, principally by De Havilland (fighters), English Electric (bombers), and Wellington (bombers), were followed by the first jet passenger transport, the De Havilland Comet, which inaugurated regular service in 1952.

In early 1960 British Aircraft Corporation (BAC) was created through the amalgamation of Vickers-Armstrongs Ltd. with English Electric Company and Bristol Aeroplane Company; shortly afterward BAC acquired a controlling interest in Hunting Aircraft Ltd.

Unprofitable financial situations for both BAC and Hawker Siddeley led to their nationalization in 1976.

The company had emerged from the massive consolidation of UK aircraft manufacturers since World War II. British Aerospace was formed on 29 April 1977 by the nationalization and merger of The British Aircraft Corporation (BAC), the Hawker Siddeley Group and Scottish Aviation.

The company moved toward privatization in 1981 when the British government sold 51.57 percent of its stake to the public.

Upon its creation on 2 January 1985, Royal Ordnance plc owned the twelve Royal Ordnance Factories (ROFs) that remained open, plus the Waltham Abbey South site, RSAF Enfield and three Agency Factories.

Several factors delayed the intended privatisation until 22 April 1987, when British Aerospace purchased the company.

Tom Rabaut was named President of the newly created BAE Systems Land and Armaments, he was previously Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and President of United Defense since January 28, 1994.

BAE Systems was formed on 30 November 1999 by the £7.7 billion merger of British Aerospace (BAe) and Marconi Electronic Systems (MES). As a result, BAE Systems is the successor to many of the most famous British aircraft, defense electronics and warship manufacturers.

In 2000 the company employed some 100,000 people directly and in joint ventures and was the largest exporter in the United Kingdom.

When Dick Olver was appointed Chairman of BAE Systems in July 2004 he ordered a review of the company's businesses which confirmed the attractiveness of the land systems sector.

It was created on June 24, 2005, following the completion of BAE Systems plc's acquisition of United Defense and its merger with BAE Systems Land Systems.

By August of the financial year 2006 BAE had received contracts totaling $477.9 million.

The L&A group In 2007 BAE Systems acquired Armor Holdings adding to the size of Land & Armaments significantly.

Global Combat Systems (GCS) was formed on 1 February 2009 by the merger of BAE Systems' Land Systems Weapons & Vehicles, Land Systems (Munitions & Ordnance) Ltd and BAE Systems AB in Sweden.