An F-39 Gripen of the Brazilian Air Force armed with MBDA's Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile. MBDA has opened a new office in Rio de Janeiro to strengthen co-operation with Brazil and other South American countries. (Victor Barreira)
European missile maker MBDA is seeking to strengthen ties with the Brazilian defence technological and industrial base (DTIB), and further contribute to modernising the Brazilian Armed Forces.
With this aim, the company officially inaugurated a local subsidiary, MBDA Brasil, on 28 November in Rio de Janeiro. This regional office will also market MBDA products in other South American countries.
MBDA Brasil will gradually build up to a workforce of 15, Patrick de La Revelière, president of MBDA Brasil, told Janes . It could also eventually undertake maintenance of existing missile systems in Brazil through technology transfer from its parent company.
MBDA is a joint venture between Airbus (37.5%), BAE Systems (37.5%), and Leonardo (25%).
MBDA has logged several contracts from the Brazilian Armed Forces in recent years, including Meteor air-to-air missiles for the F-39 Gripen fighter jet, Exocet AM39 Block 2 Mod 2 anti-ship missile for the AH-15B Super Cougar helicopter, Exocet SM39 Block 2 Mod 2 missile for Riachuelo-class submarines, and the Sea Ceptor surface-to-air missile defence system for Tamandaré-class frigates.
The four Tamandaré-class frigates, scheduled to be commissioned between 2025 and 2029 for Surface Force Command, will also be equipped with MBDA's ITL 70A B3 and MLS (Maritime Launching System) missile launchers.
MBDA has worked with local unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) specialist XMobots since 2022 to integrate its Enforcer Air air-launched precision multi-purpose missile to the Nauru 1000C vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) fixed-wing UAV.
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