View source for DASA

==History==
[[File:Helicopter EC135 taking off from Bonn university clinic helipad.JPG|right|thumb|An [[ADAC]] [[Eurocopter EC135]], 2008]]
DASA (from ''Deutsche Aerospace Aktiengesellschaft'') was founded on 19 May 1989 by the merger of Daimler-Benz's aerospace interests, [[MTU Aero Engines|MTU München]], and [[Dornier Flugzeugwerke]].<ref>Gunston 2005, p. 120.</ref> During December 1989, Daimler-Benz acquired rival German aerospace consortium [[Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm]] (MBB) and merged it into DASA. During March 1990, Daimler-Benz initiated a major restructuring of the new group, integrating the previously separate companies into five product groups; Aircraft, Space Systems, Defense and Civil Systems/Propulsion. Several companies continued to exist under their own names but, by 1992, most (including MBB and TST) of the former entities had been fully integrated.{{Citation needed|date=March 2020}}

During 1992, DASA's helicopter portfolio, which had been largely inherited from MBB, was merged with the helicopter division of French manufacturer [[Aérospatiale]] to form [[Eurocopter]]. The [[Eurocopter EC135|Bo 108]], DASA's in-development helicopter derived from MBB's highly successful [[MBB Bo 105|Bo 105]], was one of the assets transferred to the new company; it was launched as the [[Eurocopter EC135]] during the early 1990s to considerable similar commercial success.<ref name="pope">Pope, Stephen. [http://www.flyingmag.com/aircraft/helicopters/eurocopter-ec-135 "Eurocopter EC 135."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420223830/https://www.flyingmag.com/aircraft/helicopters/eurocopter-ec-135/ |date=2021-04-20 }} ''Flying Magazine'', 18 May 2012.</ref> By 2014, Eurocopter, which was subsequently rebranded as ''Airbus Helicopters'', was a market leader in the field, operating four principal manufacturing plants in Europe ([[Marignane]] and [[La Courneuve]] in France, and [[Donauwörth]] and [[Kassel]] in Germany), plus 32 subsidiaries and participants around the world, including those in [[Brisbane]], Australia, [[Albacete]], Spain and [[Grand Prairie]], USA.<ref>[http://www.airbushelicopters.com/site/en/ref/Airbus-Helicopter-Network-on-interactive-map_1290.html?countryISO2=ES Airbus Helicopters – Spain] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116083723/http://www.airbushelicopters.com/site/en/ref/Airbus-Helicopter-Network-on-interactive-map_1290.html?countryISO2=ES |date=16 January 2014 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.airbushelicopters.com/site/en/ref/Airbus-Helicopter-Network-on-interactive-map_1290.html Airbus Helicopters – Interactive Network Map] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140115052008/http://www.airbushelicopters.com/site/en/ref/Airbus-Helicopter-Network-on-interactive-map_1290.html |date=15 January 2014 }}</ref> As of that same year, in excess of 12,000 helicopters built by the company were in service with over 3,000 customers across roughly 150 countries.<ref>[http://www.airbushelicopters.com/site/en/ref/Who-We-Are_23-2.html Airbus Helicopters – Who We are] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140114054045/http://www.airbushelicopters.com/site/en/ref/Who-We-Are_23-2.html |date=14 January 2014 }}</ref>

During the early 1990s, DASA became involved as a strategic partner of the [[Netherlands|Dutch]] aircraft manufacturer [[Fokker]], the latter reportedly being interested in expanding its footprint in the regional aircraft sector.<ref name = "berlin 1992">[https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1992/1992%20-%201335.html "Decisions, Decisions."] ''Flight International'', 2 June 1992. pp. 35, 38.</ref> During 1993, it was announced that DASA purchased a 40 per cent stake in Fokker.<ref name = "Fokker troub"/> However, by 1995, both Fokker and DASA were experiencing considerable financial difficulties, largely as a result of the extremely competitive nature of the regional market during this era. Fokker was forced to reduce production of its [[Fokker 50]] airliner;<ref>[https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/fokker-losses-hit-record-27616/ "Fokker losses hit record."] ''Flight International'', 22 March 1995.</ref> and embark upon a major restructuring programme, including efforts to renegotiate prices with its suppliers, in what was viewed by aerospace publication [[Flight International]] as a last-ditch effort to save the company.<ref>O'Toole, Kevin. [https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/fokker-slashes-costs-in-new-restructuring-plan-22087/ "Fokker slashes costs in new restructuring plan."] ''Flight International'', 8 March 1995.</ref><ref>[https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/fokker-plans-new-indian-link-25968/ "Fokker plans new Indian link."] ''Flight International'', 17 May 1995.</ref> During January 1996, DASA's board decided to distance the company from the struggling Fokker.<ref name = "Fokker troub"/><ref>O'Toole, Kevin. [https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/fokker-in-capital-crisis-as-losses-rise-mount-25452/ "Fokker in capital crisis as losses rise mount."] ''Flight International'', 12 July 1995.</ref><ref>Jeziorski, Andrzej. [https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/fokker-submits-its-bail-out-plan-to-dutch-government-24294/ "Fokker submits its bail-out plan to Dutch Government."] ''Flight International'', 13 September 1995.</ref> At one stage, DASA had agreed to provide a rescue deal for the company, but this had been contingent upon a commitment by the Dutch government.<ref>Jeziorski, Andrzej. [https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/dasa-stands-by-ailing-fokker-18962/ "DASA stands by ailing Fokker."] ''Flight International'', 3 January 1996.</ref>

[[File:QKD Do228.jpg|thumb|left|Head-on view of a [[Dornier 228]]]]
The poor state of the company's finances heavily contributed to DASA's decision to depart the regional aircraft market entirely.<ref>Jeziorski, Andrzej. [https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/dasa-dealt-double-blow-24457/ "DASA dealt double blow."] ''Flight International'', 23 August 1995.</ref><ref name = "Fokker troub">Jeziorski, Andrzej. [https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/dasa-folds-its-wings-19453/ "DASA folds its wings."] ''Flight International'', 31 January 1996.</ref> According, during June 1996, it was announced that DASA had sold the majority of the assets of its former Dornier division to American aviation company [[Fairchild Aircraft]], leading to the creation of ''Fairchild Dornier''. Furthermore, that same year, DASA announced that all manufacturing operations for the [[Dornier 228]] would be transferred to [[Hindustan Aeronautics Limited]] (HAL) of [[India]]; two years later, activity on the German production line was permanently terminated. These moves were intended to concentrate the company's resources on the production of the larger [[Dornier 328]] airliner, as well as to respond to Dornier's wider financial difficulties.<ref name=Steenhuis>Eriksson, Sören and Harm-Jan Steenhuis. [https://books.google.com/books?id=ReEsCgAAQBAJ ''The Global Commercial Aviation Industry.''] Routledge, 2015. {{ISBN|1-13667-239-7}}, pp.59–62, 241.</ref>

On 1 January 1995, the company announced that it had changed its name to ''Daimler-Benz Aerospace AG''. As a consequence of the [[peace dividend]] of the 1990s following the dissolution of the [[Soviet Union]], industry-wide consolidation increased. Following the merger of parent company Daimler Benz with American car manufacturer [[Chrysler Corporation]] during 1998, the company was renamed ''DaimlerChrysler Aerospace AG'' on 7 November 1998. Management and politicians alike remained keen to form partnerships with other European companies in the aerospace and defense sectors. 

On 10 July 2000, it was announced that DASA (minus MTU) had formally merged with [[Aérospatiale-Matra]] of France and [[Construcciones Aeronáuticas SA|Construcciones Aeronáuticas SA (CASA)]] of Spain to form the [[Airbus|European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company]] (EADS). Following the merger, the former DaimlerChrysler Aerospace division initially operated as ''EADS Deutschland GmbH''; following the rebranding of EADS as ''Airbus Group'', the division was formally rebranded as ''Airbus Defence and Space GmbH''.{{Citation needed|date=March 2020}}