Naval Warfare

Kongsberg, Diehl, MBDA to develop supersonic strike missile for Germany and Norway

14th May 2024

The 3SM Tyrfing supersonic strike missile will succeed the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) currently in use on Norwegian naval vessels from 2035, with Germany yet to announce its deployment plans.

Defence Notes

SAHA EXPO 2024 International Defence & Aerospace Exhibition

13th May 2024

SAHA EXPO 2024 will bring together the technologies that shape the future with the world between 22-26 October 2024.

Land Warfare

MBDA successfully tests Italian Army GRIFO air defence system

8th May 2024

The GRIFO air defence system is part of the Enhance Modular Air Defence Solutions family will be operated as part of the Italian Army’s air defence, giving its short-range air defence capability an extended range.

Naval Warfare

Royal Navy to receive DragonFire laser system

12th April 2024

The UK Ministry of Defense (MoD) made the decision to accelerate the laser programme from the demonstrational stage to an operational laser weapon.

Land Warfare

Rheinmetall receives EU funding to boost artillery production for Ukrainian war effort

26th March 2024

Rheinmetall has contracts to produce hundreds-of-thousands of artillery shells for Ukraine and new funding from the EU will boost the company’s manufacturing capability.

Land Warfare

MBDA and Saab strengthen partnership on anti-tank and air defence systems

31st January 2024

MBDA and Saab have solidified their partnership in anti-tank and air defence capabilities as they attempt to enhance military readiness amid escalating threats in high-intensity conflicts.

Naval Warfare

MBDA receives three Sea Viper contracts

21st January 2024

The new Sea Viper Evolution (SVE) system foresees the use of the Aster 30 B1 missile, the latest addition to the Aster family and an upgrade to Sea Viper’s primary sensor, the Sampson Multi-Function Radar (MFR).

Land Warfare

UK DragonFire laser weapon completes successful test

19th January 2024

DragonFire, a new laser weapon system built for the UK MoD, was first unveiled at DSEI 2017 in London during its design phase. For the development work, MBDA has grouped expertise from Leonardo, QinetiQ, MBDA, Arke, BAE Systems, Marshall and GKN.

Military UAS - fixed-wing

Next-Generation Weapon System (NGWS) (FCAS) [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

Next-Generation Weapon System (NGWS) (FCAS) [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

Next-Generation Weapon System (NGWS) (FCAS) [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 ...

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) ...

Fighter - multirole

Global Combat Air Programme (Italy)

Programme Background In September 2019, the UK and Italian governments formally agreed to partner on the future fighter Tempest programme by way of a statement of ...

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 ...

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

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

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 ...

Fighter - multirole

Global Combat Air Programme (Japan)

Programme Background The Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency of Japan issued a RfI in August 2020 to support the F-X project. The document stipulated that applicants ...

Frigates

Optional Fourth FDI Frigate [Greece]

Programme Background On 28 September 2021, it was announced by Florence Parly that an agreement had been reached and Naval Group will be equipping the Hellenic ...

APCs/IFVs - 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 ...

Surface-to-air missiles

ASTER-30

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

Self-propelled missile systems

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 ...

Self-propelled missile systems

MPCV

The Multi-Purpose Combat Vehicle (MPCV) was developed by MBDA in cooperation with Rheinmetall Defence Electronics to provide a mobile weapon system which can be adapted ...

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. ...

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 is ...

Air-to-surface missiles, Surface-to-air missiles

Storm Shadow/SCALP/SCALP Naval

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 ...

Air-to-surface missiles, Anti-ship missiles

SPEAR 3

The Selective Precision Effects At Range (SPEAR) Capability 3 is being developed by MBDA for the UK MoD, which is seeking a new missile for ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing

Expendable Remote Carrier (ERC)

The Expendable Remote Carrier (ERC) is an experimental autonomous system that MBDA revealed at the Paris Air Show 2023.  A critical part of the FCAS programme, ...

Self-propelled missile systems

VL MICA system

The Vertical Launch (VL) MICA (Missile d’interception et de combat aérien) is a short-range air defence system using the MICA fire-and-forget missile, which MBDA describes ...

APCs/IFVs - 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 ...

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, ...

Anti-ship missiles

Marte

The Marte is a medium-range, fire-and-forget, all-weather, sea-skimming anti-ship missile system derived from the Italian Sea Killer missile. It is a helicopter-launched, horizon-range anti-ship weapon with ...

Air-to-surface missiles

PGM-500/PGM-2000

The PGM-500 and the PGM-2000 are short-range ASMs manufactured by the UK and the US. They were developed and originally manufatured by Alenia Marconi Systems ...

Air: Defensive Systems - Radar Warning Receivers, Air: Defensive Systems - Laser Warning Receivers, Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming, Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

SPECTRA

Thales’ SPECTRA (Rafale Fire Control Radar Protection and Avoidance System) is the Integrated Self-Protection System (ISPS) used by the Dassault Rafale series of combat aircraft. ...