EADS' C-295 Military Airlifter is Demonstrated to the Texas Army National Guard During...

Business Editors

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 26, 2004

EADS North America

-- The Twin-Engine Aircraft is Being Proposed for Increasingly

Important Deployment Missions Performed by the Army and

National Guard

-- Dedicated Website

Updates

The EADS North America C-295 "All American Tour" has completed a three-day visit to Austin, Texas, during which the military airlifter was presented to the Army National Guard and local news media.

The visit included briefings and a demonstration flight for Detachment 49 of the U.S. Army's Operational Support Airlift Command. This Texas National Guard unit - which currently has aircraft deployed in Iraq - was provided a first-hand look at how the C-295 can contribute to improving Army operations on its increasingly important intra-theater lift missions. A presentation to the Texas news media also was provided at Austin Airport today.

The C-295's extensive "All American tour" - which began May 17 - is going coast-to-coast with briefings and familiarization flights in ten states: Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama, Texas, Idaho, California, Oregon, Alaska, South Dakota and Vermont. It is organized by Washington, D.C.-based EADS North America and by EADS CASA North America - which represents the EADS Military Transport Aircraft Division that designs, manufactures and commercializes the company's family of light and medium transport aircraft.

Prior to its arrival in Texas, the C-295 performed demonstration flights for the Army at Fort Rucker and Redstone Arsenal in Alabama, and made a stopover in Fayetteville, North Carolina, where the elite U.S. Army Golden Knights parachute team made four evaluation jumps from the aircraft.

Ralph Crosby, EADS North America's Chairman and CEO, said the C-295 "All America tour" comes at a time when intra-theater lift capability is increasingly important for the U.S. in its deployment and support of forces at home and abroad. "The lessons learned from Iraq and Afghanistan, combined with homeland security needs within North America, have underscored the necessity for a capable, and efficient, medium-sized airlifter," Crosby explained. "The C-295 is perfectly tailored for these missions. As an in-production, in-service aircraft, it offers a no-risk solution to the U.S. military's mission requirements."

The multi-mission C-295 is the largest member of EADS' family of light/medium military transport aircraft. It offers the best value for users - with acquisition and direct operating costs that are lower than any other aircraft in its category. The C-295 retains the proven mission and handling characteristics of the smaller EADS CN-235, which has been sold to more than 20 countries worldwide, including the U.S. for the Coast Guard's Deepwater Program's maritime patrol mission.

Updates during the C-295's North American tour are being posted daily on a special Website: http://www.c295-tour.com. This Website includes details on the EADS military airlifter family, interviews, photos and video clips.

About EADS North America

With headquarters in Washington, D.C., EADS North America is the holding company for the North American operations of EADS, the second largest aerospace and defense company in the world. As a leader in all sectors of defense and homeland security, EADS North America and its parent company, EADS, contribute over $6 billion to the U.S. economy annually and support more than 100,000 American jobs through its network of suppliers and services. With ten operating units and investments in 38 cities and the District of Columbia, EADS offers a broad array of advanced solutions to its customers in the commercial, homeland security, aerospace and defense markets. In 2003, EADS generated revenues of EUR 30.1 billion and employed a workforce of about 109,000. The EADS Group includes the aircraft manufacturer Airbus and the world's largest helicopter supplier, Eurocopter.