Nord Aviation
| Company type | Government-owned corporation |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace |
| Predecessor | SNCAN, SFECMAS |
| Founded | October 1, 1954 in Bourges, France |
| Defunct | March 1, 1970 |
| Fate | Merged with Sud Aviation and SEREB to form SNIAS (later Aérospatiale) |
| Successor | Société nationale d'industrie aérospatiale (SNIAS) |
| Headquarters | Bourges , France |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Aircraft, missiles (notably the Exocet missile) |
| Owner | French government |
Nord-Aviation () was a French government-owned aerospace manufacturer based at Bourges Airport in central France.
Formed on 1 October 1954, Nord Aviation resulted from SNCAN (Société nationale de constructions aéronautiques du Nord) acquiring SFECMAS (Société française d'étude et de construction de matériels aéronautiques spéciaux). The company gained recognition for producing the Nord Noratlas, a versatile transport aircraft utilized extensively by both military and civilian operators. In addition to transport planes, Nord Aviation designed general aviation, trainer, and experimental aircraft, as well as a variety of missile systems, most notably the Exocet anti-ship missile capable of sea-skimming flight.
On 1 March 1970, Nord Aviation combined forces with Sud Aviation and SEREB to create Société nationale d'industrie aérospatiale (SNIAS), which was shortly thereafter renamed Aérospatiale.
History
Following World War II, the French aerospace sector underwent restructuring to restore its industrial strength. Nord Aviation was established in 1954 through the merger of SFECMAS and SNCAN.
Before the company’s official formation, the Nord Noratlas had already been developed. By June 1953, an initial batch of 34 aircraft had been delivered; subsequently, the French Air Force placed an additional order for 174 units, bringing the total to 228 aircraft in active service. The Noratlas also achieved export success: West Germany acquired 187 examples, with deliveries commencing in 1956. While the first 25 planes were manufactured in France, the remaining 161 were assembled locally by Flugzeugbau Nord under the designation N-2501D. Demilitarized versions named N-2502A/B were produced for civilian use.
Several of Nord’s projects remained experimental, including the Nord 1500 Griffon, a ramjet-powered fighter prototype capable of reaching Mach 2 speeds. Developed in the mid-1950s to fulfill interceptor requirements for the French Air Force, two prototypes were constructed solely for research purposes without armament. Production was ultimately halted in favor of simpler designs such as the Dassault Mirage III.
Nord Aviation also ventured into missile development; its flagship product was the Exocet anti-ship missile. Initiated in 1967 under the designation MM 38 and derived from the AS-30 tactical missile framework, it entered service with the French Navy in 1979. The Exocet gained international attention during the 1982 Falklands conflict when Argentine forces employed it successfully against British vessels including HMS Sheffield and the merchant ship Atlantic Conveyor. Furthermore, an Iraqi-launched Exocet struck the USS Stark in 1987.
The merger forming SNIAS (later Aérospatiale) in 1970 represented Nord’s integration into a broader aerospace conglomerate that eventually became part of EADS (now Airbus Group) in 2000.
Aircraft production (for SNCAN and Nord Aviation)
Source: Aviafrance SNCAN and Aviafrance Nord
| Model | Year | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Nord 1000 Pingouin | 1944 | Communications and liaison aircraft |
| Nord 1101 Noralpha | 1946 | Liaison plane |
| Nord 1201 Norécrin | 1947 | Four-seat touring monoplane |
| Nord 1221 Norélan | 1948 | Light training aircraft |
| Nord 1400 Noroit | 1948 | Maritime flying boat |
| Nord 1402A Gerfaut IA | 1954 | Delta-wing experimental aircraft |
| Nord 1500 Griffon I | 1955 | Ramjet-powered research fighter |
| Nord 2500 Noratlas | 1949 | Military transport widely used by French Air Force and export customers |
| Nord 2800 | 1950 | Trainer designed for pilot instruction |
| Nord 3200 | 1954 | Primary trainer employed by military flight schools |
| Nord 3400 Norbarbe | 1958 | Army observation aircraft supporting ground operations |
| Nord 260 | 1960 | Regional civil airliner |
| Nord 262 | 1962 | Turboprop airliner for commercial use |
Missiles
- AA.20 – an early-generation air-to-air missile that improved aerial combat effectiveness
- AS-20 and AS-30 – air-to-surface missile variants that broadened tactical strike capabilities
- SS.10, SS.11, SS.12/AS.12 – missile systems designed for anti-tank and anti-ship roles, notable for their export achievements
- Exocet – a sea-skimming anti-ship missile renowned worldwide for its significant market presence
Bibliography
- Cann, John P. Flight Plan Africa: Portuguese Airpower in Counterinsurgency, 1961-1974. Helion and Company, 2015.
- Jackson, Paul A. German Military Aviation 1956-1976. Hinckley, Leicestershire, UK: Midland Counties Publications, 1976.
External links
- Nord Aviation aircraft at Aviafrance
- Articles with short description
- Aérospatiale
- Defunct aircraft manufacturers of France
- Defunct helicopter manufacturers
- Helicopter manufacturers of France
- French companies established in 1954
- Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1954
- Technology companies established in 1954
- Vehicle manufacturing companies disestablished in 1970
- 1970 disestablishments in France
- 1970 mergers and acquisitions
- Technology companies disestablished in 1970