EADS, aeronautic group that should see the light of day in the spring from the merger between AEROSPATIALE MATRA, DASA, and CASA (see EI of 16 October), has made an offer in view of creating a 50/50 joint venture with the Italian firm ALENIA-FINMECCANICA, entity that would become Europe's foremost entity and the world's number three in the field of military aeronautics.