BAE Systems Avionics

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BAE Systems Avionics was the avionics unit of BAE Systems until 2005, at which time it was transferred to SELEX Sensors and Airborne Systems S.p.A (75% Finmeccanica, 25% BAE) and was renamed SELEX Sensors and Airborne Systems Ltd. The business was headquartered in Basildon, Essex, England.

History

BAE Systems Avionics has a rich heritage which dates back to 1909 when the Elliot and Marconi companies began to fit aircraft with systems (beginning with embryonic air to ground communications). By 1913 Elliot's avionics product lines advanced to gyroscopes, weapon sights and altimeters.

Timeline

1800 - Elliot established as equipment maker.
1909 - Elliot and Marconi companies begin to fit avionics to early aircraft.
1946 - Marconi is acquired by English Electric.
1967 - English Electric and Elliot merge.
1968 - The new English Electric group acquired by GEC.
1969 - GEC renames avionics business Marconi-Elliot Avionics Systems Limited, part of the company's defence arm, GEC-Marconi.
1978 - Renamed Marconi Avionics Limited.
1984 - Renamed GEC Avionics Limited.
1998 - Renamed Marconi Avionics, part of the renamed defence arm, Marconi Electronic Systems (MES).
1999 - MES merged with British Aerospace to form BAE Systems. Avionics business becomes BAE Systems Avionics.
2005 - BAE Systems Avionics merged with Galileo Avionica to form SELEX Sensors and Airborne Systems.

Sources

[The Changing World of Avionics], G.M. Barling. GEC Review, Vol. 6 1990

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