BAE Systems is a
British defence and aerospace company headquartered at
Farnborough,
UK, which has worldwide interests, particularly in
North America through its subsidiary
BAE Systems Inc. BAE is the world's third-largest defence contractor and the largest in
Europe. BAE was formed on 30 November 1999 by the £7.7 billion merger of two British companies:
Marconi Electronic Systems, the defence electronics and naval shipbuilding subsidiary of
The General Electric Company plc (GEC) and aircraft, munitions and naval systems manufacturer
British Aerospace (BAe). It has increasingly disengaged from its businesses in continental Europe in favour of investing in the United States. Since its formation it has sold its shares of
Airbus,
EADS Astrium,
AMS and
Atlas Elektronik. BAE Systems is involved in several major defence projects, including the
F-35 Lightning II, the
Eurofighter Typhoon and the
Royal Navy Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers. The company has been the subject of criticism, both general opposition to the arms trade and also specific allegations of unethical and corrupt practices, including the
Al Yamamah contracts with
Saudi Arabia that have earned BAE and its predecessor £43 billion in twenty years.
