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Aérospatiale
Fate	Merged into EADS
Successor	EADS
Founded	1970
Defunct	July 10, 2000
Headquarters	Toulouse, France
Industry	Aerospace and defence
Products	See list

Aérospatiale was a French aerospace manufacturer that built both civilian and military aircraft, rockets and satellites. It was originally known as Société Nationale d'Industrie Aérospatiale (SNIAS). The former assets of Aérospatiale are now part of EADS, except the Satellites activities who merged with Alcatel and became Alcatel Space, in 1999, now Thales Alenia Space.

[edit] History

The company (as SNIAS) was created in 1970 by the merger of the state-owned companies Sud Aviation, Nord Aviation and Société d'études et de réalisation d'engins balistiques (SÉREB). Starting in 1971 it was directed by Émile Dewoitine and Bernard Dufour.

In 1991 the company helped construct the revolutionary chassis of the Bugatti EB110 Supercar. The chassis was built completely out of carbon fibre, and was very lightweight.

In 1992, DaimlerBenz Aerospace AG (DASA) and Aérospatiale combined their helicopter divisions to form the Eurocopter Group.

In 1999, Aérospatiale, except for the satellites activities, merged with Matra Haute Technologie to form Aérospatiale-Matra. In 2001, Aérospatiale-Matra's missile group was merged with Matra BAe Dynamics and the missile division of Alenia Marconi Systems to form MBDA. Lionel Jospin's Plural Left government initiated the privatization of Aérospatiale.

On July 10, 2000, Aérospatiale-Matra merged with Construcciones Aeronáuticas SA (CASA) of Spain and DaimlerChrysler Aerospace AG (DASA) of Germany to form the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS).