MBDA opens missile engineering centre in Abu Dhabi to develop smart weapons
MBDA says the UAE engineering centre will work on the next generation of smart weapons. (Image: MBDA)
MBDA has officially inaugurated a missile engineering centre in the UAE, with the aim of strengthening the long-term partnership between the company and the emirates and establish a foundation for joint development of missile systems.
According to a company release, this cooperation has the ultimate objective of offering missile systems at the right level of performance while leveraging and reinforcing the sovereign capabilities of the UAE defence industry through significant local content.
The centre is the first of its kind for the company outside Europe and is staffed by a joint team of engineers from Tawazun Technology Innovation and MBDA, working on next-generation smart weapons.
Related Articles
IDEX 2023: Lacroix tightens UAE bonds with joint venture agreement
MBDA nets new contract for Saudi CAMM missiles
MBDA, Italian Navy detail development of Teseo Mk2/E missile
MBDA CEO Eric Béranger commented: ‘This unique cooperation is the very symbol of what we aim to achieve with our partner Tawazun Council in the UAE, projecting ourselves in the long term to make our collaboration a win-win and a symbol of our involvement in the region.’
More from Defence Notes
-
UK urged to prioritise sea, air and space over heavy armour
A report from the Council on Geostrategy argues the UK should move away from a traditional balanced force and shift investment to naval, air and space capabilities, backed by a larger fleet of attack submarines and deeper AUKUS integration.
-
Orchestrating operational readiness across every defence domain
Are all systems ready for the next mission? Have upgrades been applied? Are all assets aligned to deploy together, on time and fully prepared? In modern defence operations, readiness is no longer measured platform by platform. It is measured by how well people, assets, data and decisions move together — across land, sea and air.
-
Global tensions drive defence supply chain scrutiny
Governments worldwide are scrambling to decouple defence supply chains from dependency upon strategic rivals, but countries could struggle to do it all themselves.
-
How deepening AI usage can boost efficiency and maximise effects for forces
Saab has outlined how it is using artificial intelligence to make training more like electronic gaming, while the UK’s Power Size Technologies is applying the same technology to better evaluate and design vehicle capability, moving AI-enabled innovation further upstream from the frontline.
-
From systems integrator to multi-domain solutions provider (video)
Philipp von Brandenstein, Head of Corporate Communications at Rheinmetall, explains how Eurosatory 2026 marked a new stage in the company's evolution.