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{{Short description|1989–2000 German aerospace manufacturer}}
{{Other uses|Dasa (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox company
| name = DASA
| logo = DASA_Logo_2.svg
| former_name = {{ubli
  | Deutsche AeroSpace AG
  | Daimler-Benz AeroSpace AG
  | DaimlerChrysler AeroSpace AG
  }}
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| fate = [[MTU Aero Engines]] spun off; remainder merged into EADS (now [[Airbus]])
| predecessor = {{ubli
  | [[Daimler-Benz]] (aerospace unit)
  | [[Dornier Flugzeugwerke]]
  | [[Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm]]
  | [[MTU Aero Engines|MTU München]]
  }}
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1989|5|19}}
| defunct = {{End date|2000|7|10}}
| location_city = [[Munich]]
| location_country = Germany
| industry = [[Aerospace]]
| parent = [[Daimler-Benz]] (later [[DaimlerChrysler]])
| homepage = {{web archive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990427185358/http://www.dasa.com/|title=dasa.com}}
}}
'''DASA''' (officially '''Deutsche AeroSpace AG''', later '''Daimler-Benz AeroSpace AG''', then '''DaimlerChrysler AeroSpace AG''') was a German aerospace manufacturer. Founded in May 1989 as the aerospace subsidiary of Daimler-Benz (later DaimlerChrysler, and now the [[Mercedes-Benz Group]]), the company combined Daimler-Benz's aerospace division and its other aviation subsidiaries—including [[MTU Aero Engines|MTU München]] and [[Dornier Flugzeugwerke]], which had previously operated independently—with rival manufacturer [[Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm]] (MBB), acquired by Daimler that year.

DASA’s existence was relatively brief, as the post–[[Cold War]] "[[peace dividend]]" of the 1990s encouraged consolidation across the aerospace industry. In July 2000, DASA merged with France's [[Aérospatiale]]-[[Matra]] and Spain's [[CASA (aircraft manufacturer)|CASA]] to form EADS, which later rebranded as [[Airbus]]. After the formation of EADS, Daimler retained ownership of MTU, which was subsequently spun off in 2003 as [[MTU Aero Engines]], an independent company that continues to operate.

==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}}

==Major projects==
[[File:AGM-88 and AIM-9 on Tornado.jpg|thumb|A [[Panavia Tornado|Tornado ECR]] of the [[German Air Force]] in 1999]]

Immediately upon its creation, DASA was associated with several ongoing aircraft programmes, including the multinational [[Eurofighter Typhoon]] fighter programme, the [[Panavia Tornado]] fighter-bomber, along with various other initiatives and partnerships. The company's work on the Tornado was largely conducted via [[Panavia Aircraft GmbH]], a tri-national consortium consisting of [[British Aerospace]] (previously [[British Aircraft Corporation]]), [[Aeritalia]] of Italy, and DASA, having inherited MBB's involvement. Under this arrangement, DASA manufactured the Tornado's central fuselage on behalf of all international customers while the other partners manufactured the rest of the airframe.<ref name='segell125'>Segell 1997, p. 125.</ref> DASA's subsidiary MTU also held a 40 per cent stake in the Tornado's engine manufacturer [[Turbo-Union]], a separate multinational company formed to develop and build the [[Turbo-Union RB199|RB199]] engines for the aircraft.<ref name='segell124'>Segell 1997, p. 124.</ref><ref name= 'Wellington'>Long, Wellington. [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BmAvAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2dwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5323,4133149&dq=tornado+bomber&hl=en "Swing-Wing Wonder Weapon Is Going Into Production."] ''Ludington Daily News,''24 August 1976.</ref> Production of the Tornado was terminated during 1998; the final batch of aircraft being produced was delivered to the [[Royal Saudi Air Force]], who had ordered a total of 96 IDS Tornados.<ref name=Janes_241>Jackson et al. 1998, p. 241.</ref> DASA was also responsible for the mid life upgrade (MLU) of the German fleet of [[Panavia Tornado]]s, similar to the RAF's [[RAF Tornado GR4|GR4]] upgrade.{{Citation needed|date=March 2020}}

During the 1990s, the Eurofighter proceeded towards the mass production phase, DASA holding a workshare stake in the programme. The workshare split had originally been agreed at 33/33/21/13 (United Kingdom/Germany/Italy/Spain) based on the number of units being ordered by each contributing nations.<ref name="BBCwomc">''Eurofighter: Weapon of Mass Construction'' (TV broadcast). ''BBC'', 6 July 2003 airdate.</ref> However, following order cuts during the [[peace dividend]] following the collapse of the [[Soviet Union]], the programme's workshare split was renegotiated as 43% for [[Airbus Group|EADS MAS]] in Germany and Spain; 37.5% for [[BAE Systems]] in the UK; and 19.5% for Alenia.<ref>Haertl, Ronald. [http://www.europeansecurityanddefence.info/Ausgaben/2_2005/04_EUROFIGHTER/2005,02,04,01.html "Eurofighter—A Milestone Report".] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326130355/http://www.europeansecurityanddefence.info/Ausgaben/2_2005/04_EUROFIGHTER/2005%2C02%2C04%2C01.html |date=26 March 2012 }} ''European Security and Defence''. Retrieved: 3 July 2011.</ref><ref name="BBCwomc"/> On 27 March 1994, the [[maiden flight]] of the Eurofighter prototype took place in [[Bavaria]], flown by DASA chief test pilot Peter Weger.<ref name="maiden">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/march/27/newsid_2531000/2531051.stm "1994: Maiden flight for future fighter jet."] ''BBC News'', 27 February 1994. Retrieved: 19 March 2008.</ref> Production was divided into three tranches, these being a production/funding distinction without directly implying an incremental increase in capability with each tranche. Tranche{{nbsp}}3 was later divided into A and B parts.<ref name="FI partners sign 3A deal">Hoyle, Craig. [https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/eurofighter-partners-sign-9-billion-tranche-3a-deal-330463/ "Eurofighter partners sign €9&nbsp;billion Tranche 3A deal."] ''Flight International'' via ''flightglobal.com,'' 31 July 2009. Retrieved: 7 July 2012.</ref> In September 1998, contracts were signed for production of 148 Tranche{{nbsp}}1 aircraft and procurement of long lead-time items for Tranche{{nbsp}}2 aircraft.<ref>Chuter, Andy. "EF2000 deal firms up first batch order." ''Flight International'', 23 September 1998.</ref> In March 2008, the final aircraft out of Tranche{{nbsp}}1 was delivered to the [[German Air Force]], with all successive deliveries being at the Tranche{{nbsp}}2 standard or above.<ref>Holm, Kathryn and Martina Schmidmeir. [http://www.eurofighter.com/media/news0/news-detail/article/german-air-force-10000-flying-hours-with-the-eurofighter.html "German Air Force: 10,000 Flying Hours with the Eurofighter."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927053539/http://www.eurofighter.com/media/news0/news-detail/article/german-air-force-10000-flying-hours-with-the-eurofighter.html |date=27 September 2011 }} ''Eurofighter.com'', 16 March 2009. Retrieved: 3 July 2011.</ref>

Owing to its expertise with both German and [[NATO]] aircraft, DaimlerChrysler Aerospace provided various upgrade packages for a wide range of aircraft, such as the [[McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II]] and the [[Boeing E-3 Sentry]]. During 1993, ''MiG Aircraft Support GmbH'' was established with DaimlerChrysler Aerospace holding a 50% stake. The company undertook the upgrade of the German Air Force's fleet of 24 [[Mikoyan MiG-29|MiG-29s]] to [[NATO]] standards.{{Citation needed|date=March 2020}} These fighters had been inherited from the former [[East Germany]] after the reunification of the country in 1991.

==Aircraft==
[[File:D-HNWQ MBB BK-117 Polizei (7740187134).jpg|thumb|A [[North Rhine-Westphalia Police|Polizei]] [[MBB/Kawasaki BK 117|BK 117]]]]
[[File:Rockwell-MBB X-31 landing.JPG|thumb|right|Rockwell-MBB X-31, one of two X-31 Enhanced Fighter Maneuverability Demonstrator aircraft (top)]]
* [[Dornier 228]]
* [[Dornier 328]]
* [[Eurocopter AS355 Écureuil 2]]
* [[MBB Bo 105]]
* MBB Bo 108 - became the [[Eurocopter EC 135]]
* [[MBB/Kawasaki BK 117]]
* [[Lockheed F-104 Starfighter|MBB F-104G/CCV]] (CCV Program)

===Partnerships===
* [[Airbus A300]]
* [[Airbus A310]]
* [[Airbus A320 family]]
* [[Eurofighter Typhoon]]
* [[Fokker 50]]
* [[Fokker 70]]
* [[Fokker 100]]
* [[MPC 75]]
* [[Panavia Tornado]]
* [[Rockwell-MBB X-31]]

==References==
===Citiations===
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last= Gunston |first= Bill |title= World Encyclopedia of Aircraft Manufacturers, 2nd Edition |year= 2005 |publisher= Sutton Publishing Limited |location= Phoenix Mill, Gloucestershire, England, UK |isbn= 0-7509-3981-8 |pages= 164 }}
* Jackson, Paul, Kenneth Munson, Lindsay Peacock and John W. R. Taylor, eds. ''Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1997–98.'' London: Jane's Information Group, 1998. {{ISBN|0-7106-1788-7}}.
* {{Cite book |last=Segell |first=Glen |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UU39P_O2Ey8C |title=Wither or Dither: British Aerospace Collaborative Procurement with Europe |location=Staffordshire, UK |publisher=Glen Segell Publishers, 1997 |isbn=1-901414-03-5 |date=1 January 1997}}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Germany|Companies|Aviation}}
* {{web archive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990427185358/http://www.dasa.com/|title=Official website}}
* [http://www.wtec.org/loyola/satcom2/b_07.htm About Daimler-Benz Aerospace]

{{EADS}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Defunct aircraft manufacturers of Germany]]
[[Category:Defunct helicopter manufacturers of Germany]]
[[Category:DaimlerChrysler]]
[[Category:Airbus]]