• Defence Helicopter

  Germany nears first Tiger operational deployment

  22nd November 2012

  After much delay, Germany’s Eurocopter Tiger attack helicopter will now deploy to Afghanistan for its first operational mission in early December. Four ASGARD-F Tigers will …

• Land Warfare

  MBDA Germany demonstrates laser weapon system

  9th November 2012

  MBDA Germany’s high-energy laser has demonstrated a complete deployment sequence in countering rockets, artillery and mortar shells (C-RAM), moving the programme a step closer to …

• Defence Helicopter

  PARS 3 LR enters full scale production

  9th October 2012

  MBDA has announced that PARS 3 LR, the main armament for the German Army’s Tiger helicopter, has passed into full scale production. The news follows …

• Defence Helicopter

  Helibras and Lider sign MoU for Brazilian EC225 production

  3rd October 2012

  Oil and gas helicopter operator Lider Aviacao has signed an MoU with Helibras to become the first operator of Brazilian-built Eurocopter EC225s. The deal, announced …

• Land Warfare

  MBDA Germany’s 40 kW laser successfully tested

  13th September 2012

  MBDA Germany has achieved a power of 40 kW using its high-energy laser demonstrator during a laser firing campaign. This was the first successful demonstration …

• Military Logistics

  Thales announces OCCAr contract signing

  26th July 2012

  Thales has announced that Eurosam, its joint venture with MBDA, has signed the first Integrated In-Service Support (IISS) contract with the Organisation for Joint Armaments …

• Defence Helicopter

  Qatar gets ready for helicopter air-to-air combat

  17th July 2012

  Qatar may be looking to equip its next generation attack helicopter fleet with an air-to-air capability, it has emerged. In an unusual move – followed …

• Naval Warfare

  Farnborough 2012: MBDA completes Sea Spear live firing

  10th July 2012

  MBDA has recently completed live firing trials of its new Brimstone Sea Spear missile system for anti-FIAC (fast inshore attack craft) applications. The system is …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Farnborough 12: MBDA looks to UAV future

  9th July 2012

  MBDA has launched the CVS301 Vigilus concept for the weaponisation of MALE UAVS. Speaking at a media briefing at the Farnborough International Airshow, Chris Allard, …

• Defence Notes

  Farnborough 2012: SPEAR penetrates the market

  9th July 2012

  MBDA is introducing its Selective Precision Effects at Range (SPEAR) Capability 3 offering for the first time at the Farnborough International Airshow. Speaking to a …

• Defence Notes

  MBDA completes Meteor firing campaign

  27th June 2012

  MBDA has announced that its Meteor active radar-guided Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) has recently successfully completed its firing campaign. A total of 21 …

• Defence Notes

  MBDA calls for greater Anglo-French co-operation

  21st March 2012

  MBDA has called for 'mutual dependence' between the UK and France, warning that a lack of co-operation could see both countries losing out in the …

• Land Warfare

  US examines MEADS funding

  18th January 2012

  Lockheed Martin has revealed that discussions will begin 'this week' with regards to the 2013 congressional requirements for the Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS). …

• Military Logistics

  MBDA wins demilitarisation award

  25th November 2011

  MBDA has been awarded a contract for the destruction of 36,000 complex munitions by the NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency (NAMSA). This marks the beginning …

• Digital Battlespace

  First MEADS battle manager begins integration testing

  13th October 2011

  MEADS International (MI) has begun integration testing on the first completed Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) battle manager at the MEADS Verification Facility in …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Loitering munitions

  Colibri [France]

  Programme Background Origins French Ministry of Armed Forces spokesperson Hervé Grandjean stated in a press conference in May 2022 that the Direction Générale de l'Armement (DGA) ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Remote Carrier (RC) [Germany]

  Programme Background FCAS Project As noted by Airbus, the FCAS project is a tri-nation effort which will be centred around a core Next-Generation Weapon System (NGWS), which ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Remote Carrier (RC) [France]

  Programme Background FCAS Project As noted by Airbus, the FCAS project is a tri-nation effort which will be centred around a core Next-Generation Weapon System ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Remote Carrier (RC) [Spain]

  Programme Background FCAS Project As noted by Airbus, the FCAS project is a tri-nation effort which will be centred around a core Next-Generation Weapon System ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Rafale Follow-On (Egypt)

  Programme Background Egypt was reported to request 12 Rafale fighters following an earlier contract in 2015. However, this deal fell into limbo after the Pentagon blocked ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Global Combat Air Programme [Italy]

  Programme Background Shephard notes that the Italian, British and Japanese components of GCAP are tracked in separate entries. Programme Timeline 2019: In September 2019, the UK and Italian ...

• Loitering munitions

  Larinae [France]

  Programme Background Origins French Ministry of Armed Forces spokesperson Hervé Grandjean stated in a press conference in May 2022 that the Direction Générale de l'Armement ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Rafale [France]

  Programme Background Rafale F4 is the latest configuration of the Rafale fighter jet family. New functions will also be developed to improve the aircraft’s capabilities ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Remote Carrier [French Navy]

  Background Carrier Air Wing Plan The French Navy presented a broad plan for its carrier air wing for the future decades at a briefing at ...

• Frigates

  Multi-Mission Surface Combatant (MMSC) [Saudi Arabia]

  Programme Background The US State Department approved a possible $11.25 billion Foreign Military Sale to the KSA for MMCS ships and associated equipment, parts and ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Future Combat Air System (FCAS/SCAF) [France]

  Programme Background The governments of France and Germany have launched the demonstrator phase for the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) with the issue of an ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Future Combat Air System (FCAS/SCAF) [Spain]

  Programme Background Programme Timeline The Future Combat Air System (FCAS) was publicly announced in July 2017, followed by a Franco-German agreement in 2018. At the ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Future Combat Air System (FCAS/SCAF) [Germany]

  Background Requirement The FCAS programme is based on the system-of-systems design, envisioning a "command fighter" aircraft that has stand-alone combat capability as well as controlling ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Sherpa Light [Morocco]

  Programme Background Morocco is in the midst of procuring large quantities of defence equipment from the French defence industry to modernise its forces, with much ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) [Japan]

  Programme Background Shephard notes that GCAP's Japanese, British and Italian components are tracked in separate entries. Programme Timeline 2020: The Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency of Japan issued ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Guided munitions

  SmartGlider Light

  The SmartGlider Light is a precision-guided air-to-ground munition developed by MBDA, designed to enhance the strike capabilities of modern combat aircraft. MBDA anticipates that the ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  VL MICA RF

  The VL MICA missile is derived from the original MICA air-to-air missile developed by MBDA. The VL MICA system's first iteration was developed for naval ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  VL MICA IR

  The VL MICA missile is derived from the original MICA air-to-air missile developed by MBDA. The VL MICA system's first iteration was developed for naval ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  Aster 30

  The ASTER-30 is a vertically launched surface-to-air missile produced by Eurosam, a joint venture between MBDA France, MBDA Italy, and the Thales Group. Its basic ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  CAMM

  The Common Anti-air Modular Missile (CAMM) is a short-range, anti-aircraft and anti-missile surface-to-air missile. Developed to be launched from maritime platforms, land-based platforms and aircraft, ...

• Naval guns, Land: RWS

  DragonFire

  Dragonfire is a new laser weapon system built for the UK MoD, receiving £30 million of funding in early 2017. The design of the gun ...

• SABER

  The Small Air Bomb Extended Range (SABER) family is being developed to provide a low-cost weapon for small and medium-sized UAVs and small tactical UAVs. ...

• Long Range Missile Defence Systems: > 90km range

  MEADS

  The Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) provides 360° defence against existing and future tactical or medium-range ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, UAVs and aircraft. MEADS ...

• Surface-to-surface missiles

  MdCN-NCM (Naval Cruise Missile)

  Developed by MBDA to meet the needs of the French Navy, the MdCN-NCM is a long-range cruise missile capable of being launched from surface and below-surface vessels. ...

• Loitering munitions

  Akeron RCH 170

  Unveiled in April 2025, the Akeron RCH 170 is a fixed-wing loitering munition from MBDA. Similar in design to the Switchblade 300, the catapult launched system ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  MPCV

  The Multi-Purpose Combat Vehicle (MPCV) is a 4x4 armoured vehicle developed by Soframe on the Mercedes-Benz Unimog 5000 truck chassis. Able to accommodate between four ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  Aster 15

  The Aster 15 is a vertically launched surface-to-air missile produced by Eurosam, a joint venture between MBDA France, MBDA Italy and the Thales Group. It ...

• Air-to-surface missiles, Surface-to-surface missiles

  Brimstone

  MBDA developed the Brimstone missile to provide an air-to-surface missile to equip UK RAF Tornados. The Dual Mode Brimstone (DMB) semi-active laser and the millimetre-wave, ...

• Artillery rockets

  Thundart

  Thundart is a 22 mm GPS/INS guided artillery rocket being developed by MBDA and French Safran for M270 LRU MLRS of the French Army.

• Air-to-surface missiles

  Storm Shadow/SCALP EG

  The Storm Shadow is an air-launched cruise missile developed by France, Italy and the UK. It is known as the Storm Shadow in the UK ...