BAE Systems: A History of Innovation and Technological Excellence   Our Name May Be New, But You've Known Us For A Long Time   BAE Systems North America was formed in November, 1999 through the merger of British Aerospace North America and Marconi North America, as part of the global merger of British Aerospace and Marconi Electronic Systems. BAE Systems North America’s legacy at the time included such hallmarks of the U.S. aerospace and defense industry as Lear Astronics, Hazeltine, Tracor, Reflectone, General Dynamics Electronics Division, and GEC-Marconi - just to name a few. Although the names of these companies have all been retired, the shared traditions of excellence that they brought to the company serve as the foundation for today’s BAE Systems Inc.   The 1999 merger was followed shortly by the acquisition of several significant businesses, which greatly enhanced the products and services provided by BAE Systems North America to both its defense and commercial customers, and boosted it to a position as one of the top 10 defense companies in the U.S.   In September, 2000, BAE Systems acquired Lockheed Martin Control Systems, a leading designer and producer of military and commercial aircraft flight control systems, hybrid-electric drives, and Full Authority Digital Engine Controls (FADEC). In November, 2000, BAE Systems North America completed the acquisition of Lockheed Martin Aerospace Electronics Systems (LMAES), which consisted of Sanders, Fairchild Systems, and Lockheed Martin Space & Electronics Systems. This acquisition established BAE Systems North America as one of the leading suppliers of electronic warfare systems in the world.   Since 2000, BAE Systems has acquired nine additional companies. Those purchases fall in line with the company’s strategy of acquiring profitable, growing businesses with strong, differentiated technologies that complement our broad range of capabilities and bolster our ability to provide integrated systems and transformational solutions for major customers.   In June 2005, BAE Systems acquired United Defense Industries (UDI), leading defense company who designs, develops and produces combat vehicles, artillery systems, naval guns, missile launchers and precision munitions. Prior to this, in 2002, UDI had diversified it's portfolio by providing non-nuclear ship repair, modernization and conversion to the U.S. Navy and other U.S. government agencies through the acquisition of United States Marine Repair.   Through its legacy companies, BAE Systems Inc. has a proud tradition of innovation and technology, and is responsible for a number of technological breakthroughs and firsts. Among them are: Development of the first operational Identification: Friend or Foe (IFF) systems during World War II by the Hazeltine Corporation, now BAE Systems Advanced Systems; Invention, development and production of the first autopilot by Lear Astronics, now part of BAE Systems Platform Solutions; Ground-breaking work in electronic warfare and countermeasures which began more than 50 years ago at Sanders, now BAE Systems Information & Electronic Warfare Systems; Pioneering development of aerial cameras as early as 1920 by the Fairchild Aerial Camera Corporation, now BAE Systems Reconnaissance & Surveillance Systems. Development of the first All Digital Imagery Work Station in 1985 by General Dynamics Electronics Division, now BAE Systems Mission Solutions. Development and fielding of the Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS) Class 2 (Link 16) terminal in the mid-1980s, used today in all U.S. services and NATO as a major step toward Network Centric Warfare, by BAE Systems CNI. A 1984 joint venture with GE Aircraft Engines to develop and produce engine controls for large military and commercial engines has grown into BAE Systems Platform Solutions' largest business segment. BAE Systems engine controls since have logged more than 350 million hours of service on commercial airliners. The first order for amphibious landing craft came in 1941 with a form from the military that simply said "Buy 1,000 LVTs - Food Machinery Corporation" resulting in the production of more than 10,000 armored vehicles during World War II.