The company was formerly known as Airbus Group SE and changed its name to Airbus SE in April 2017. Airbus SE was founded in 2000 and is based in Leiden, the Netherlands. Airbus SE, through its subsidiaries, provides aeronautical, space and related products and services worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Airbus Commercial Aircraft, Airbus Helicopters and Airbus Defense and Space. The Airbus Commercial Aircraft segment develops, manufactures, markets and sells commercial jet aircraft with approximately 100 seats; and regional turboprop aircraft and aircraft components, as well as aircraft conversion and related services. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”?Get the original essayThe Airbus Helicopters segment develops, manufactures, markets and sells civil and military helicopters; and offers helicopter-related services in the areas of tactical transport and naval applications. The Airbus Defense and Space segment develops, manufactures, markets and sells missile systems, satellites, orbital infrastructure, launchers, military transport and special mission aircraft and associated services. This segment also provides solutions for the defense electronics and global security market, such as integrated systems for global border security and secure communications and logistics solutions. Additionally, it offers training, testing, engineering and other related services; space-related services; and military combat aircraft and training aircraft, and manufactures Earth observation, navigation, scientific and telecommunications satellites. Airbus Industry began as a consortium of European aerospace companies formed to compete with American companies such as Boeing, McDonnell Douglas and Lockheed. In 2003, Airbus and the Kaskol Group established an Airbus engineering center in Russia, which started with 30 engineers and has since become a successful model for Airbus' globalization strategy. It is the first engineering center opened in Europe outside of the company's home countries. Equipped with state-of-the-art communications equipment and linked to Airbus engineering sites in France and Germany, the facility carries out extensive work in disciplines including fuselage structure, constraints, installation and design systems. In 2011, the center employed some 200 engineers who carried out more than 30 major projects for the A320, A330/A340 and A380 programs. Russian engineers also carried out more than half of all design work on the A330-200F freighter, with its activity involving the design of the fuselage structure, installation of floor grilles and design of junctions. The center is currently involved in the design development of the A320neo Sharklets and extensive design work on the scheduled A350 XWB. On February 29, 2008, the United States Air Force awarded a $35 billion contract for aerial refueling tankers (the KC-45) to Northrop Grumman, with EADS as a major subcontractor. The contract, one of the largest ever signed by the Department of Defense, is initially valued at $35 billion, but has the potential to reach $100 billion. Under the terms of the contract, Northrop Grumman and EADS would build a fleet of 179 aircraft, based on the existing Airbus 330, to provide in-flight refueling for military aircraft, from fighters to cargo planes. While final assembly of the aircraft would take place at an Airbus factory near Mobile, Alabama, parts would come from suppliers across the,.