Airbus Defence and Space Revamp Aims To Tackle Decline
Bernhard Gerwert (left) is the CEO of the new Airbus defence and space division. The heads of the four business lines are (clockwise from left top) Evert Dudok (CIS); Thomas Mueller (electronics); Domingo Urena-Raso (military aircraft); and Francois Auque (space systems).
Bernhard Gerwert (left) is the CEO of the new Airbus defence and space division. The heads of the four business lines are (clockwise from left top) Evert Dudok (CIS); Thomas Mueller (electronics); Domingo Urena-Raso (military aircraft); and Francois Auque (space systems).

Airbus Defence and Space may be a new brand, but the former defense and space businesses of EADS face a familiar problem: how to remain profitable when European defense budgets are in decline and export competition is intensifying. The combining of Airbus Military, Astrium and Cassidian took effect at the executive level on January 1. Three weeks earlier, a reduction of 5,800 jobs at the new combined division over the next three years was announced.