Corporate brand
UnclaimedDASA was a German aerospace and defense manufacturer that became part of EADS in 2000.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
DASA, formally Deutsche AeroSpace AG and later known as Daimler-Benz Aerospace AG and DaimlerChrysler Aerospace AG, was the aerospace and defense arm of Daimler-Benz and its successor DaimlerChrysler. Established on 19 May 1989, it consolidated several major German aviation and propulsion businesses, including MTU München and Dornier Flugzeugwerke, and absorbed Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm after Daimler-Benz acquired that company later in 1989. The formation created one of Germany’s principal aerospace groups at a time when the country was seeking a stronger, more integrated industrial position in European civil aviation, military aircraft, helicopters, space systems, defense electronics, and propulsion. DASA inherited a broad portfolio rather than building its business around a single product family. Its aircraft activities included the Dornier 228 and Dornier 328, participation in the Panavia Tornado and Eurofighter Typhoon programs, and work connected with the Airbus A300, A310, and A320 families. Through its inherited MBB activities, it also held important helicopter programs, including the Bo 105, the Bo 108, and the BK 117. The Bo 108 development became the basis for the Eurocopter EC135 after DASA combined its helicopter interests with those of France’s Aérospatiale. DASA also operated in military aircraft modernization, supporting platforms such as the German F-4 Phantom II fleet, the E-3 Sentry, and former East German MiG-29 aircraft adapted to NATO standards. The company reorganized extensively after its creation. In 1990, Daimler-Benz integrated the previously separate businesses into product groups covering aircraft, space systems, defense and civil systems, and propulsion. The restructuring reflected both the technological breadth of the new group and the pressure to make the German aerospace sector more efficient. The end of the Cold War subsequently reduced defense demand and intensified international competition. This so-called peace dividend contributed to industry consolidation and placed particular pressure on regional-aircraft and civil-aerospace activities. DASA’s regional-aircraft strategy illustrates these difficulties. It acquired a 40 percent stake in Dutch manufacturer Fokker in 1993, but Fokker’s financial problems and the difficult regional-aircraft market led DASA to withdraw from the relationship. In 1996, DASA sold most of the former Dornier aircraft assets to Fairchild Aircraft, creating Fairchild Dornier, while Dornier 228 manufacturing was transferred to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited in India. These measures reduced DASA’s exposure to struggling regional-aircraft programs and concentrated activity on larger or strategically important projects. DASA was renamed Daimler-Benz Aerospace AG in 1995 and DaimlerChrysler Aerospace AG in 1998 after Daimler-Benz merged with Chrysler. European aerospace consolidation continued, and on 10 July 2000 DASA, excluding MTU, merged with Aérospatiale-Matra of France and CASA of Spain to create the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company, or EADS. DASA therefore ceased to exist as an independent corporate identity. Its German operations became EADS Deutschland and were later incorporated into the Airbus group, including Airbus Defence and Space. Daimler retained MTU, which was separated from the wider aerospace group and spun off as MTU Aero Engines in 2003. DASA is consequently best understood as a historical German aerospace group whose industrial assets and programs became part of Airbus, Airbus Helicopters, and MTU Aero Engines.
History
DASA was created on 19 May 1989 as Daimler-Benz’s dedicated aerospace group. Its initial formation combined the parent company’s aviation interests with MTU München and Dornier Flugzeugwerke, businesses that had previously operated with substantial independence. Daimler-Benz then acquired Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm in December 1989 and incorporated that major German aerospace consortium into DASA. The resulting organization brought together aircraft design and production, helicopter development, propulsion, military systems, and space-related capabilities. In March 1990, Daimler-Benz began a substantial internal restructuring. The group was organized around five broad product areas, including aircraft, space systems, defense and civil systems, and propulsion. Although legacy names such as MBB and Dornier continued to appear in programs and subsidiaries, the parent sought to integrate the businesses more closely. By the early 1990s, many of the former independent entities had been absorbed into the DASA structure. DASA’s inherited programs gave it a central role in European military aviation. It continued MBB’s participation in the Panavia Tornado, a multinational program involving British, Italian, and German industry. DASA produced the Tornado’s central fuselage for international customers, while MTU held a significant interest in Turbo-Union, the consortium responsible for the RB199 engine. DASA also participated in the Eurofighter Typhoon program, whose prototype made its first flight in Bavaria in 1994. In addition, the group undertook modernization work for aircraft operated by Germany and NATO partners, including F-4 Phantom II and E-3 Sentry aircraft. The helicopter business became one of DASA’s most consequential areas of international cooperation. In 1992, DASA combined its helicopter operations with those of Aérospatiale to form Eurocopter. The MBB Bo 108, an advanced development derived from the Bo 105 family, moved into the new organization and was subsequently launched as the Eurocopter EC135. This transaction foreshadowed the broader European consolidation that would later absorb DASA itself. DASA also pursued a larger role in regional civil aircraft. In 1993, it acquired a 40 percent stake in Fokker, hoping to strengthen its position in the regional-aircraft sector. The strategy encountered severe market and financial pressures. Fokker struggled with production reductions and restructuring, while DASA itself faced the consequences of an intensely competitive market and the reduction in defense spending after the Cold War. In January 1996, DASA’s board decided to distance the company from Fokker, and the group subsequently withdrew from much of the regional-aircraft business. The same financial pressure led to a reorganization of Dornier-related activities. In June 1996, DASA sold most of the former Dornier aircraft assets to Fairchild Aircraft, resulting in Fairchild Dornier. It also announced that Dornier 228 production would move to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited in India; German production ended permanently two years later. These steps were intended to reduce exposure to troubled programs and focus remaining resources on the Dornier 328 and other strategically significant activities. The corporate name changed twice during the final phase of the company’s existence. On 1 January 1995, Deutsche AeroSpace became Daimler-Benz Aerospace AG. After Daimler-Benz merged with Chrysler in 1998, the aerospace business became DaimlerChrysler Aerospace AG on 7 November of that year. The end of the Cold War had encouraged a wave of consolidation across European aerospace and defense, and DaimlerChrysler sought a larger cross-border structure capable of competing with American and other international groups. On 10 July 2000, DASA, apart from MTU, merged with France’s Aérospatiale-Matra and Spain’s CASA to form the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company, generally known as EADS. The former DASA operations became EADS Deutschland GmbH and were later incorporated into the Airbus organization, including Airbus Defence and Space. Daimler retained MTU, which was eventually separated and spun off as MTU Aero Engines in 2003. DASA therefore existed as an independent brand for only about eleven years, but its industrial legacy remains visible in Airbus military aircraft, helicopters, space and defense operations, and the independent MTU propulsion business.
- 2003
MTU becomes independent
[1]MTU is spun off as MTU Aero Engines, separating the propulsion business from the EADS successor structure.
- 2000
DASA merges into EADS
[1]DASA, excluding MTU, merges with Aérospatiale-Matra and CASA to form EADS.
- 1998
Name changes to DaimlerChrysler Aerospace
[1]The aerospace group adopts a new name after the Daimler-Benz–Chrysler merger.
- 1996
Dornier assets are sold
[1]Most former Dornier aircraft assets are sold to Fairchild Aircraft, while Dornier 228 manufacturing is transferred to HAL.
- 1995
Name changes to Daimler-Benz Aerospace
[1]DASA adopts the Daimler-Benz Aerospace AG name.
- 1994
Eurofighter prototype flies
[1]The first Eurofighter prototype completes its maiden flight in Bavaria with DASA participation.
- 1993
Fokker investment
[1]DASA acquires a 40 percent stake in Dutch regional-aircraft manufacturer Fokker.
- 1992
Eurocopter is formed
[1]DASA combines its helicopter division with Aérospatiale’s helicopter business, creating Eurocopter.
- 1990
Group restructuring begins
[1]Daimler-Benz reorganizes DASA into product-oriented groups covering aircraft, space, defense and civil systems, and propulsion.
- 1989
DASA is founded
[1]Daimler-Benz establishes Deutsche AeroSpace AG on 19 May by combining its aerospace interests with MTU München and Dornier Flugzeugwerke.
Products and positioning
A vertically broad German aerospace and defense group combining aircraft manufacturing, helicopters, military systems, space activities, and propulsion within the Daimler industrial portfolio. DASA positioned itself as a major national and European industrial partner in multinational aerospace programs rather than as a consumer-facing product brand.
Multinational fighter aircraft · 1994
Eurofighter Typhoon
DASA was the German industrial participant in the Eurofighter program and contributed to the aircraft’s development and production workshare. The program was organized among European partner nations and proceeded from prototype testing into series production during DASA’s final years. Its continuation after DASA’s merger made the program one of the clearest examples of DASA’s industrial legacy within the later EADS and Airbus structures.
Multinational combat aircraft
Panavia Tornado
Inherited from MBB, the Tornado was a major tri-national program involving German, British, and Italian industry. DASA manufactured the central fuselage for international customers through Panavia Aircraft GmbH and supported German aircraft modernization. Production ended in 1998 after the final aircraft were delivered to Saudi Arabia.
Regional turboprop aircraft
Dornier 228
The Dornier 228 was a regional turboprop aircraft inherited through Dornier Flugzeugwerke. During DASA’s restructuring, production was transferred to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited in India, while the German production line closed in the late 1990s.
Regional aircraft
Dornier 328
The Dornier 328 was a principal civil-aircraft focus during DASA’s retreat from other regional-aircraft activities. The company sought to concentrate resources on this larger program amid financial difficulties affecting Dornier and the wider regional-aircraft market. Most Dornier aircraft assets were later sold to Fairchild Aircraft, creating Fairchild Dornier.
Light utility helicopter
MBB Bo 105
The Bo 105 was one of the important helicopter programs inherited from MBB. Its technical and commercial legacy informed later DASA and Eurocopter helicopter development, although the model itself originated before DASA was created.
Light twin-engine helicopter
MBB Bo 108 / Eurocopter EC135
The Bo 108 was an advanced helicopter development derived from the Bo 105. After DASA and Aérospatiale combined their helicopter businesses in Eurocopter, the program was developed and launched commercially as the EC135, later known as the Airbus Helicopters H135.
Utility helicopter
MBB/Kawasaki BK 117
The BK 117 was a German-Japanese helicopter program associated with MBB and Kawasaki and included in DASA’s inherited helicopter portfolio. The program contributed to the group’s international civil and utility helicopter activities before the creation of Eurocopter.
Defense systems and upgrades
Aircraft modernization programs
DASA provided upgrade and support packages for multiple German and NATO aircraft types, including the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II, Boeing E-3 Sentry, and German MiG-29 fleet. These activities used the company’s experience with German and alliance aircraft to extend service life and improve interoperability.
Brand decisions
2000
Merger creating EADSM&ABackground
Post-Cold War defense pressures and European aerospace consolidation encouraged DaimlerChrysler to pursue a larger multinational aerospace structure.
Action taken
DASA, excluding MTU, merged with Aérospatiale-Matra and CASA to form the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company.
Aftermath
DASA ceased to exist as an independent company. Its German operations became part of EADS and later Airbus, while MTU was retained separately and eventually spun off.
1996
Withdrawal from Fokker and regional aircraftStrategyBackground
Fokker and DASA were under financial pressure, while the regional-aircraft market was highly competitive and demand had weakened.
Action taken
DASA’s board decided to distance the group from Fokker and subsequently reduced its exposure to regional-aircraft activities.
Aftermath
DASA sold most former Dornier aircraft assets to Fairchild Aircraft and transferred Dornier 228 production to HAL, concentrating resources on fewer civil-aircraft activities.
Recent events
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