About us
ASD represents the Aeronautics, Space, Security and Defence industries in Europe. These industries, in turn, generate a turnover of approximately 171 billion euros, employ some 730,000 people and encompass over 2,000 companies and 80,000 suppliers, many of which are SMEs.
Aeronautics, space, defence and security are crucial sectors for our continent. They strongly contribute to the attainment of many of Europe’s key socio-economic goals, by ensuring sustainable mobility, by providing highly- skilled jobs, and by fostering Europe’s knowledge economy through massive R&D investments. Thanks to their dynamism and innovative strength, our industries help Europe achieve and maintain technological excellence
Europe’s aerospace industry has done a lot to reduce its environmental impact: an aircraft today produces 70 per cent less CO2 than its equivalent 50 years ago and is 75 per cent quieter than 30 years ago. But much more remains to be done, and we are currently exploring all possible areas of improvement, including aerodynamics, advanced materials, engines and alternative fuels.
SPACE
Europe’s space industry also plays a crucial role in several key areas, from telecommunications and broadcast to the environment, agriculture, security and disaster management. We are fully committed to helping Europe develop fully-fledged, autonomous capabilities in domains as crucial as earth observation (GMES) or global navigation (Galileo).
DEFENCE & SECURITY
In this area our industries give Europe the means to play an important role on the world stage, and to protect its citizens from global threats. They provide the EU and its Member States with the capabilities they need to lead stabilising and peace-keeping missions in the world’s most troubled areas. They contribute to ensuring the security of Europe’s citizens, by developing the technologies and tools required for the efficient control of EU borders, for the protection of critical infrastructures and for the smooth running of civil protection missions.
