Editing SABCA (section)

==History==
During 1920, SABCA was founded with the purpose of locally designing and building aircraft to satisfy [[Belgium]]'s emerging aviation requirements.<ref name = "official history"/> Its first manufacturing site was adjacent to [[Haren Airport]], in the suburbs of [[Brussels]]. During the [[Interwar period]], the company produced a number of in-house designs, as well as engaging in the manufacture of both civil and military aircraft.<ref name = "official history"/> Throughout its existence, SABCA has been a prolific user of [[licensed production|production licenses]], which have authorised the firm to build other manufacturers' aircraft. During 1926, the company constructed a total 15 [[Airco DH.4]] [[light bomber]]s.<ref name="Jackson p60">Jackson 1987, p. 60.</ref>

While its operations were disrupted by the [[German occupation of Belgium during World War II|German occupation of Belgium]] during the [[World War II|Second World War]], SABCA resumed operations shortly following the [[Victory in Europe Day|end of the conflict]].<ref name = "official history"/> In 1955, a new manufacturing plant was opened at [[Brussels South Charleroi Airport|Charleroi Airport]]. Around this same period, SABCA became involved in early [[European Space Research Organisation|European space programmes]]; the firm would be involved in the production of [[Spacelab]] as well as both the [[Ariane (rocket family)|Ariane]] and [[Vega (rocket)|Vega]] [[expendable launch system]]s.<ref name = "official history"/> SABCA also cooperated with the Dutch manufacturer [[Fokker]] in the manufacture of its [[Fokker F27 Friendship|F27 Friendship]] and [[Fokker 50|50]] short-haul [[airliner]]s. Other civil programmes the firm was involved with include producing elements of the [[Dassault Mercure]] and [[VFW-Fokker 614]] airliners.<ref name = "official history"/>

Throughout the [[postwar]] era, the company was involved in the manufacturing of large numbers of licensed aircraft as well as associated upgrade programmes; such aircraft included the [[Hawker Hunter]], the [[Republic F-84 Thunderjet]], the [[Lockheed F-104 Starfighter#Variants|Lockheed F-104G Starfighter]], the [[Dassault Mirage 5]], and the [[AgustaWestland AW109]] helicopter.<ref name = "official history"/> During the 1970s and 1980s, SABCA was responsible for operating one of the two European production lines for the [[General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon]]; a total of 164 aircraft would be manufactured at its [[Brussels South Charleroi Airport|Gosselies]] facility. The European co-production initiative was officially launched on 1 July 1977; under this arrangement, [[Fokker]]-produced components were delivered to [[General Dynamics]]' [[Fort Worth]] facility for fuselage assembly, which were then shipped back to Europe for final assembly of the aircraft at the SABCA's facility; deliveries to the [[Belgian Air Force]] started in January 1979. During the following year, SABCA commenced deliveries to the [[Royal Norwegian Air Force]].<ref>Peacock 1997, pp. 14–16, 21.</ref><ref>Richardson 1990, pp. 13–15.</ref>

During 1989, SABCA's involvement in the civil aviation sector received a significant boost via the first risk-sharing contract with the multinational aerospace conglomerate [[Airbus]].<ref name = "official history"/> It has since been a participant in all Airbus programmes, including the [[Airbus A380|A380]], the [[Airbus A400M Atlas|A400M Atlas]], and the [[Airbus A350 XWB|A350 XWB]]. SABCA also designs and manufactures subassemblies on behalf of other manufacturers, including [[Dassault Aviation]] and [[Gulfstream Aerospace]].<ref name = "official history"/> During 1992, demand for [[Composite material|composite]] components had grown to the point where a dedicated [[subsidiary]], ''SABCA Limburg'', was established to focus specifically on this activity.<ref name = "official history"/>