Created in 1992 from the merger of the helicopter divisions of Aerospatiale-Matra (France) and DaimlerChrysler Aerospace (Germany), the Eurocopter Group is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of EADS, one of the leading aerospace companies in the world. Through successive integration phases, the group has now become the first totally integrated aeronautics company in Europe with three main entities: the parent company Eurocopter, its German subsidiary Eurocopter Deutschland, and its Spanish subsidiary Eurocopter España. This set-up allows the group to profit from a unified governing structure, while at the same time insuring respect for the national identities of the participating countries.

The Group has a workforce of 13,000, and 5 main development and production sites located in Marignane and La Courneuve (France), Donauwörth and Ottobrunn (Germany), and Cuatro Vientos (Spain). The Group maintains a strong worldwide presence through 16 subsidiaries on the five continents, backed by a dense network of distributors and certified agents. This presence is reinforced by over 30 years of experience in international cooperation, developed with 34 countries. Currently 9,500 Eurocopter helicopters are operating in 139 countries on behalf of some 2,500 customers.

One reason for this worldwide success is the variety of helicopters marketed by the Group. All the categories are covered: light single-engine machines (EC120 B Colibri, Ecureuil/Fennec, EC 130); light twins (Ecureuil/Fennec, EC135/635, BK 117, EC145); medium-sized twins (Dauphin/Panther and EC155 B1); the Tiger combat helicopter; and the 9-11 metric ton class (Super Puma/Cougar, EC225/725, and the NH90, the product of a joint cooperative program with Agusta (Italy) and Stork Fokker (Netherlands). Eurocopter thus has the largest civil and military range of helicopters in the world.

In 2005, Eurocopter secured its position as the world's No. 1, with a turnover of 3.2 billion euros ‑ up by 15% over the 2004 turnover – with orders for 401 new helicopters, once again leading the way in the civil and parapublic sectors with a 52% market share. The main contributors to the turnover were the delivery of 334 helicopters, Customer Support activities, and R & D and miscellaneous activities. Exports accounted for 71% compared to 29% for domestic use in France, Germany, and Spain. The portfolio was balanced with 54% in the military sector and 46% in the civil and parapublic sector.

Eurocopter  is  pursuing  its  policy  of  technological innovation by maintaining a high level of R&D (15% of the turnover).  Two new helicopter programs have been launched in 2005: the KHP in cooperation with Korea, and the EC 175 in cooperation with China. 

American Eurocopter, which has been headquartered in Grand Prairie, Texas since the early 1970s, (known as American Eurocopter since 1992) is a leading provider of helicopters in the U.S. for commercial, police enforcement, homeland defense and other operators. The nearly 400 customers flying some 1,300 Eurocopter rotary-wing aircraft in the U.S. include the U.S. Coast Guard (which operates approximately 100 Eurocopter aircraft); the U.S. Border Patrol; U.S. Customs; FBI; federal, state and local government agencies; hospitals and emergency medical services; corporate and business customers, and tourism operators. In order to better support the US Department of Homeland Security, a new facility was built at Columbus, Mississippi for the assembly and customization of the helicopters sold by American Eurocopter to local and federal government organizations.

In 2006, Eurocopter/American Eurocopter were selected to provide the U.S. Army’s new Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) for which a variant of the company’s commercial EC145 was chosen. EADS North America is acting as prime contractor. The helicopters will be assembled at American Eurocopter’s Columbus facility.

Lutz Bertling is President and CEO of the Eurocopter Group.