BAE Systems

BAE Systems is a company designing, developing, and supporting defense and aerospace systems for air, land, sea, and space use that is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia and was founded in 1999.

In December 2017, BAE Systems in conjunction with The University of Manchester held their first phase of flight trials for their experimental unmanned MAGMA aircraft. The MAGMA aircraft is an unmanned combat aerial vehicle that uses a unique blown-air systems to steer the airplane while flying instead of traditional mechanical moving controls or fins.

Two technologies unique to the MAGMA aircraft are wing circulation control and fluidic thrust vectoring. Both technologies take advantage of air flow resulting from the aircrafts engine and blown air. Wing circulation control takes air being blown from the engine and blows it over the trailing edge of the wing providing stability to the aircraft while in flight. Fluidic thrust vectoring uses blown air to deflect the aircrafts exhaust which allows the aircraft to change direction.

On March 24, 1998 BAE Systems received a grant worth $176,500 from NYSERDA.

On November 30, 2009 BAE Systems announced receiving a grant worth $42 million from the United States Army for developing laser targeting systems.

On September 10, 2010 BAE Systems announced receiving a grant worth $41.7 million from the United States Navy.

On December 20, 2013 BAE Systems announced receiving a grant worth $496,300 from NYSERDA.

On March 15, 2016 BAE Systems announced receiving a grant worth $415,000 from NYSERDA.

On February 15, 2011 BAE Systems acquired Advanced Concepts, a company offering information technology and telecommunication engineering solutions, for an undisclosed amount of money.

On February 15, 2011 BAE Systems acquired L-1 Identity Solutions, an intelligence company, for $295.8 million in cash and $7.2 million in assumed obligations. After the acquisition L-1 Identity Solutions became a subsidiary of BAE Systems.

On November 15, 2012 BAE Systems acquired Marine Hydraulics International, a company operating a shipyard and waterfront facilities, for an undisclosed amount of money. The president of BAE Systems made the following statement regarding the acquisition of Marin Hydraulics International:

This acquisition is fully aligned with our business strategy to continue to grow in the maritime industry by enhancing our efficiencies and breadth of capabilities, which is consistent with our global strategy to deliver value to our customers with cost-effective solutions.

On October 2, 2014 BAE Systems acquired Signal Innovations Group, a company making decision systems and data types for the security industry, for an undisclosed amount of funding.

On October 21, 2015 BAE Systems acquired Silversky, a company making could-based security solutions, for $232.5 million in cash. After the acquisition Silversky became a subsidiary of BAE Systems. The chief executive of BAE Systems, Ian King, made the following statement about the company's acquisition of Silversky:

SilverSky’s cloud-based email and network security solutions complement our existing portfolio and increase our presence in the United States, a very significant market for IT security. The enlarged business will offer customers an attractive suite of products and services to protect critical information and networks from the rapidly growing threat of digital crime.

On December 24, 2014 BAE Systems acquired Eclipse Electronic Systems, a company making digital receiver commercial products (COTS) and signal processing components, for $28 million in cash.

On February 21, 2017 BAE Systems acquired IAP Research, a company developing technolgies related to electromagnetic metals, for an undisclosed amount of money. After the acquisition IAP Research became a subsidiary of BAE Systems. The acquisition was made to focus on the development of an electromagnetic railgun (EMRG). The President of Platforms & Services of BAE Systems, Erwin Bieber, made the following statement regarding the acquisition:

We look forward to leveraging our combined workforces and long-standing strategic partnership to successfully develop and produce advanced weapon systems, such as the EMRG, and pursue other business opportunities that incorporate our innovative technologies and capabilities.

In June 2019 BAE Systems acquired Riptide Autonomous Solutions, a company making unmanned underwater vehicles (UUAVs), for an undisclosed amount of money.

On September 3, 2019 BAE Systems acquired Prismatic, a small satellite and HALE UAV company, for an undisclosed amount of money. Prismatic became a subsidiary of BAE Systems after the acquisition was completed. BAE Systems acquired Prismatic to primarily further the development its UAV technology. The CTO of BAE Systems, Nigel Whitehead, made the following statement regarding the acquisition:

Working together with Prismatic, we’re pushing technological boundaries to develop a revolutionary solar powered aircraft at an incredibly rapid pace. Our investment in the company will enable us to take this technology into production, with the very real possibility that this aircraft could enter initial operations with customers within 12 months of flight trials.

On January 20, 2020 BAE Systems acquired Collin Aerospace, a mobile communication satellite company, for $1.9 billion in cash.