COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 336414

Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

18companies1922–2000founding years16still active2no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedRaytheon CompanyFoundedRaytheon Company
1922
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
FoundedThe Boeing CompanyFoundedThe Boeing Company
1934
FoundedNorthrop Grumman CorporationFoundedNorthrop Grumman Corporation
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedAerojet-General Corp.FoundedAerojet-General Corp.
1942
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedIsrael Aircraft Industries Ltd.FoundedIsrael Aircraft Industries Ltd.
1953
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
FoundedSwales & Associates, Inc.FoundedSwales & Associates, Inc.
1978
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
FoundedUnited Defense Industries, Inc.FoundedUnited Defense Industries, Inc.
1994
FoundedMagellan Aerospace CorporationFoundedMagellan Aerospace Corporation
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
FoundedEuropean Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS N.V.FoundedEuropean Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS N.V.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit worldwide.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Raytheon Company →
Active · founded 1922
Raytheon Company is the third largest defense contractor in the United States, trailing only the Boeing Company and…
Raytheon Company →
Active · founded 1922
Raytheon Company is the third largest defense contractor in the United States, trailing only the Boeing Company and…
The Boeing Company →
Active · founded 1934
The Boeing Company is the largest aerospace company in the world, thanks to its 1997 merger with McDonnell Douglas…
The Boeing Company →
Active · founded 1934
The Boeing Company is the largest aerospace company in the world, thanks to its 1997 merger with McDonnell Douglas…
Northrop Grumman Corporation →
Active · founded 1939
Northrop Grumman Corporation is the number three defense firm in the United States, behind The Boeing Company and…
Northrop Grumman Corporation →
Active · founded 1939
Northrop Grumman Corporation is the number three defense firm in the United States, behind The Boeing Company and…
Aerojet-General Corp. →
Active · founded 1942
Aerojet-General Corp.
Aerojet-General Corp. →
Active · founded 1942
Aerojet-General Corp.
Israel Aircraft Industries Ltd. →
Active · founded 1953 · Israel
Israel Aircraft Industries Ltd.
Israel Aircraft Industries Ltd. →
Active · founded 1953 · Israel
Israel Aircraft Industries Ltd.
Swales & Associates, Inc. →
Active · founded 1978
Swales & Associates, Inc., doing business as Swales Aerospace, is an aerospace engineering firm based in Maryland.
Swales & Associates, Inc. →
Active · founded 1978
Swales & Associates, Inc., doing business as Swales Aerospace, is an aerospace engineering firm based in Maryland.
United Defense Industries, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1994
United Defense Industries, Inc., designs, develops, and produces combat vehicles, artillery, naval guns, missile…
United Defense Industries, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1994
United Defense Industries, Inc., designs, develops, and produces combat vehicles, artillery, naval guns, missile…
Magellan Aerospace Corporation →
Active · founded 1995 · Canada
Magellan Aerospace Corporation is Canada's largest dedicated manufacturer of aerospace components.
Magellan Aerospace Corporation →
Active · founded 1995 · Canada
Magellan Aerospace Corporation is Canada's largest dedicated manufacturer of aerospace components.
European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS N.V. →
Active · founded 2000 · The Netherlands
European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS N.V.
European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS N.V. →
Active · founded 2000 · The Netherlands
European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS N.V.
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