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The OneMBDA strategy is now starting to deliver. This initiative which involves industrial specialization in centres of excellence located in France and the UK, focusing on key technologies, has just enabled the first exchange of products made by one country for the benefit of the other.
As such, the first production standard fin actuation system for the French MMP land combat missile programme was delivered by MBDA’s Lostock UK site at the beginning of the year.
This actuation system is currently undergoing qualification at MBDA’s actuator centre of excellence in Stevenage, in preparation for the series production of the missile which will be integrated in Selles-Saint-Denis, France.
At the same time, the first four test equipment units produced by MBDA’s Bourges facility in France for the UK’s Brimstone programme have been delivered to Lostock where this air-to ground missile is being produced. These test units, developed around a common core that will feature in all the company’s future test equipment, will allow for the rationalization of tooling, logistics and the training of technical teams across the group.
On the event of this double success, Antoine Bouvier, CEO of MBDA, stated: “We are now seeing a decisive step in the process initiated by the UK and French governments through the Lancaster House Treaty. These cross deliveries of equipment between the two countries are a vivid demonstration of MBDA’s commitment to support the essential sovereign capabilities of the two nations at the lowest possible cost. This is the first step in support of the principle of interdependence and we are looking forward to the inter-governmental
agreement that will set the conditions for the bulk of French and British programmes to reap the full benefits of this specialisation logic within MBDA.”
