MBDA: Difference between revisions

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'''MBDA''' is a European [[multinational corporation]] specialized in the design, development and manufacturing of [[Missile|missiles]] and related systems.<ref>[http://www.mbda-systems.com/mbda/site/ref/scripts/EN_Locations_38.html MBDA • European centres of excellence] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206102906/http://www.mbda-systems.com/mbda/site/ref/scripts/EN_Locations_38.html |date=2010-12-06 }}</ref><ref name="mbdainc">[http://www.mbdainc.com/corporate/ MBDA Inc. US Division Corporate Page] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714060129/http://www.mbdainc.com/corporate/ |date=2011-07-14 }}</ref> Headquartered in [[Le Plessis-Robinson]] near [[Paris]], [[France]], the company was founded in December 2001 via the [[Mergers and acquisitions|merger]] of three of the most prominent European missile systems companies: the French [[Aérospatiale|Aérospatiale Matra Missiles]], the Anglo-French [[Matra BAe Dynamics]] and the missile division of the Anglo-Italian [[Alenia Marconi Systems]]. These businesses were subsidiaries of EADS (now called [[Airbus]]), [[BAE Systems]] and Finmeccanica (now [[Leonardo (company)|Leonardo]]), and all three remain MBDA's parent companies.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mbda-systems.com/about-us/history/ |title=History |access-date=2019-01-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928003319/https://www.mbda-systems.com/about-us/history/ |archive-date=2018-09-28 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=MBDA - Company Profile|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/company/1720864Z:LN|access-date=2021-06-07|website=www.bloomberg.com}}</ref>

MBDA employs around 13,000 people worldwide as of 2023 and, despite being an integrated company, has maintained national [[Division (business)|divisions]] since its creation: MBDA France (over 6,000 employees), [[MBDA UK]] (over 4,000) and MBDA Italy (1,852).<ref name="mbdaworldwide">{{Cite web |url=https://www.mbda-systems.com/about-us/mbda-worldwide/ |title=MBDA WORLDWIDE |access-date=2020-02-17}}</ref><ref name="mbdahistory">{{Cite web |url=https://www.mbda-systems.com/about-us/history/ |title=MBDA HISTORY |access-date=2022-05-24}}</ref> They were formed by simply grouping in their respective countries the assets and activities of the various French, British and Italian businesses that had merged to create MBDA.

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== History ==

The consolidation within Europe's missile industry began in 1996 when half of the missile business of [[Matra#Matra Hautes Technologies|Matra Hautes Technologies]] (the [[Matra]] conglomerate's aerospace, defence and telecommunications division) merged with the missile activities of [[BAe Dynamics]] (itself a division of [[British Aerospace]]) to form the 50/50 joint venture Matra BAe Dynamics (MBD). Three years later, the other half of Matra Hautes Technologies's missile business (Matra Missiles) and [[Aérospatiale]]'s missile systems division were consolidated to form Aérospatiale Matra Missiles (AMM) following the merger between Aérospatiale and Matra Hautes Technologies in 1999. As a result of these developments, the new French corporation, Aérospatiale-Matra, not only had AAM as its wholly- owned missile division but also now held Matra's 50% stake in MBD. In 2000, Aérospatiale-Matra merged with Germany's [[DASA]] and Spain's [[CASA (aircraft manufacturer)|CASA]] to form the European Aeronautic Defence and Space or EADS (now rebranded Airbus); the latter thus gained ownership of all of Aérospatiale-Matra's assets, including its stakes in joint ventures; which is how Airbus came to be one of MBDA's three parent companies.<ref>{{Cite web|title=European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company {{!}} European consortium|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/European-Aeronautic-Defence-and-Space-Company|access-date=2021-06-07|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en}}</ref>

In 1998, ''GEC-Marconi Radar and Defence Systems'' (a subsidiary of [[GEC-Marconi]]) and {{ill|Alenia Difesa|it}} (a subsidiary of Finmeccanica) combined their missile and [[radar]] activities to form the 50/50 joint venture ''Alenia Marconi Systems'' (AMS). In 1999, British Aerospace purchased and merged with GEC-Marconi to form BAE Systems.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://moneyweek.com/417068/30-november-1999-bae-systems-formed-in-7-7bn-merger |title=30 November 1999: BAE Systems formed in £7.7bn merger |last=Judge |first=Ben |date=30 November 2015 |website=moneyweek.com |publisher=Dennis Publishing Ltd |access-date=2020-05-10 |quote=<!--On this day in 1999 British Aerospace merged with Marconi Electronic Systems to form BAE Systems, Europe's biggest defence company and the third biggest in the world.-->}}</ref> Thus the newly- formed BAE Systems gained ownership of both BAe Dynamics' 50% stake in Matra BAe Dynamics and GEC-Marconi Radar and Defence Systems' 50% stake in Alenia Marconi Systems; while Alenia Difesa's 50% stake in the latter remained under the ownership of Finmeccanica, which would later be rebranded Leonardo.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025}}

In December 2001, ''AAM'', ''MBD'' and the missile systems activities of ''AMS'' merged, thus founding ''MBDA''.<ref>{{cite news|title=EADS, BAE and Finmeccanica Complete MBDA Merger|work=Defense Daily International |date=2001-12-21 }}</ref> In March 2006, [[MBDA Deutschland GmbH|LFK-Lenkflugkörpersysteme GmbH (LFK)]], the German missile subsidiary of ''EADS'', was acquired by MBDA. And onOn 9 May 2012, it was rebranded [[MBDA Deutschland GmbH]]. Together with its subsidiaries [[TDW]] and Bayern-Chemie, it forms ''MBDA Germany''. Since February 2002, MBDA has owned 40% of [[Inmize]] Sistemas S.L., a Spanish company that was formed to integrate the experience and technology of the major Spanish defence companies in the guided weapons sector. An office was opened in the country in 2010 to manage its local activities. As AMS had R&D assets located in California, MBDA also possess facilities in the United States, choosing to operate in the country via a wholly- owned subsidiary called MBDA Inc.<ref name="mbdainc" /> In December 2011, MBDA Inc acquired the [[GBU-44/B Viper Strike|Viper Strike]] activity of [[Northrop Grumman]] in [[Huntsville, Alabama]].<ref>{{Cite press release | url=https://www.mbda-systems.com/press-releases/mbda-purchases-northrop-grummans-viper-strike-munitions/ |date=12 December 2011 |title = MBDA purchases Northrop Grumman's Viper Strike munitions business}}</ref>

In August 2022, MBDA Missile Systems' data was hacked from a compromised external hard drive. The data allegedly included blueprints of NATO weapons used in the [[Russo-Ukrainian War]], and 80 Gb of such data was sold for 15 Bitcoin. NATO started an investigation trying to assess and minimize the impact of this data breach.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-62672184 |date=26 August 2022 | title=Nato investigates hacker sale of missile firm data | publisher=BBC News |access-date=26 August 2022 }}</ref>

== Structure of the MBDA Group ==

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***Akeron RCH 170

**MBDA OWE (One-Way Effector) - long range attack drones<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-16 |title=MBDA presents a long-range attack drone designed to be produced at 1000 units per month! |url=https://meta-defense.fr/en/2025/06/16/mbda-owe-drone-attack-pouget-2025/ |access-date=2025-06-17 |website=meta-defense.fr |language=en}}</ref>

== Controversies ==

=== Data breach ===

In August 2022, MBDA Missile Systems' data was hacked from a compromised external hard drive. The data allegedly included blueprints of NATO weapons used in the [[Russo-Ukrainian War]], and 80 Gb of such data was sold for 15 Bitcoin. NATO started an investigation trying to assess and minimize the impact of this data breach.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-62672184 |date=26 August 2022 | title=Nato investigates hacker sale of missile firm data | publisher=BBC News |access-date=26 August 2022 }}</ref>

==References==

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==External links==

* [http://www.mbda-systems.com/ MBDA website]

* [http://www.airrecognition.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=902 MBDA Presents Multiple Solutions For Modern Combat Missions : Meteor, Marte, MMP, Exocet on airrecognition.com]

* [https://www.intelligenceonline.com/international-dealmaking/2025/03/26/mbda-losing-ground-in-gulf-while-europe-rearms%2C110403143-gra MBDA losing ground in Gulf while Europe rearms], [[Intelligence Online]], March 26, 2025 (requires free registration)

{{Aerospace industry in the United Kingdom}}

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[[Category:MBDA| ]]

[[Category:Defence companies of France]]

[[Category:Companies involved in the Gaza war]]