Rheinmetall and MBDA team up in Italy for air defence MoU
Representatives of Rheinmetall Italia and MBDA Italia signed an MoU. (Photo: Rheinmetall)
Rheinmetall Italia and MBDA Italia have signed an MoU to cooperate on air defence technologies over the next two years.
The two companies pledged on 8 March to ‘explore possibilities for collaborating in the area of air defence including disruptive technologies and in the national and European defence funds domain’.
Ultimately, the two companies aim to develop joint business opportunities in Italy and further afield.
MBDA enjoys a prominent share of the missile market, while Rheinmetall Italia is known for its surveillance and tracking radars used with short-range (SHORAD) and very short-range (VSHORAD) air defence systems.
For example, the X-TAR3D tactical acquisition radar operates in the X band for short-range search, detection, acquisition, tracking, classification and identification of low-altitude aerial targets.
More from Land Warfare
-
Europe’s eastern flank moves on air defence radars with wider efforts also underway
Air defence radars have become more important assets in the past year with incursions in NATO countries on Europe’s eastern flank highlighting the need.
-
Australia’s SM-2 land trial could reshape ADF medium-range air defence plans
The first ground launch of the SM-2 could offer Canberra a path to expand its missile defence capability by adapting systems already fielded across the ADF.
-
UK hits pause on deployable mortar system procurement as US begins search
The US Army's market survey into available 81mm and 120mm mobile mortar systems was launched only a few days after the UK suspended Project Stokes, an almost identical plan, “pending future decisions on prioritisation, resourcing and funding”.
-
New teams form to compete for British Army Land Rover replacement
The UK’s Land Mobility Programme Light Mobility Vehicle requirement is designed to replace the British Army’s ageing fleet of Land Rovers with a vehicle with a Gross Vehicular Mass of less than 3,500kg. It could be for as many as 6,000 vehicles.
-
FIA 2026: MBDA launches low-cost interceptor for short-range air defence
At FIA 2026, MBDA launched its Counter Mass Interceptor (CMI) which the company says is a mass-producible, low-cost effector for fire-and-forget engagements at range and altitude.
-
Self-propelled howitzers are driving the European artillery renaissance
After decades of force reductions as artillery was deprioritised, Europe is now undergoing an artillery renaissance as governments across the continent scramble to invest in new capabilities in response to the war in Ukraine.