Special Report: MBDA ups production volumes as European countries pursue rearmament

An Aster 30 missile launches from a SAMP/T battery. Increased orders for air-defence weapon systems have helped drive MBDA's sales. (MBDA)

As European leaders discuss plans to increase defence spending amid uncertainties over the Trump administration's commitment to NATO, the CEO of pan-European missile manufacturer MBDA, Éric Béranger, has called on national governments to deepen cross-border co-operation in complex weapons design, development, and manufacturing.

Announcing the sales results in Paris on 17 March, Béranger said that Europe was facing a turning point in its security as the “behaviour of historical allies is becoming more uncertain”. His comments came just two days before the European Union (EU) announced a EUR150 billion (USD164 billion) loan instrument to recapitalise defence under the ReArm Europe Plan/Readiness 2030 initiative.

Jointly owned by Airbus, BAE Systems, and Leonardo, MBDA is an integrated multinational company employing over 18,000 people across sites in France, Germany, Italy, and the UK. Formed in 2001, the company claims to be the only non-US manufacturer offering solutions across all complex weapon sectors.

Speaking to media, Béranger revealed that MBDA achieved revenues of EUR4.9 billion in 2024, with order intake reaching a historic maximum of EUR13.8 billion. The growth in the company's order book – its backlog now stands at EUR37 billion – has been stoked by continuing conflict in Ukraine and moves by European armed forces to replenish and grow national weapon stockpiles.