MBDA explained – the pan European missile major that sells abroad
December 26, 2025
MBDA is responsible for much of Europe’s missile production, from the now-famous Storm Shadow to the much-feared Meteor air-to-air missile. If Airbus is the pan-European aircraft manufacturer, then MBDA is the pan-European missile maker.
Europe’s multi-national missile manufacturer
MBDA is the European counterpart to Raytheon in the United States. MBDA is the largest manufacturer of advanced missiles and related systems in Europe and is based in France.
Like Airbus, MBDA is a pan-European defence contractor. In fact, Airbus is one of MBDA’s parent companies, having a 37.5% ownership. Another 37.5% is owned by the UK’s BAE Systems, and 25% is owned by Italy’s Leonardo.
The company employs around 18,000 people, with 6,000 by MBDA France, 4,000 by MBDA UK, and 1,850 by MBDA Italy. Another 1,200 employees are in Germany as MBDA took over a German missile company in 2006.
🚨🇬🇧⚡- The UK MoD confirmed its DragonFire laser shot down beyond-horizon drones flying over 400 mph during Hebrides trials.
— Monitor𝕏 (@MonitorX99800) November 24, 2025
Following the successful tests, the MoD signed a £316M contract with MBDA UK to begin fitting DragonFire onto Type 45 destroyers. The system offers a… pic.twitter.com/cnuXiH8COu
Like Airbus, it was formed from the merger of European companies, the most notable of which were French Aérospatiale Matra Missiles, the Anglo-French Matra BAe Dynamics, and Italian Alenia Marconi Systems’ missile division.
MBDA: a major missile exporter
MBDA says that its “45 weapon systems provide solutions for 90 armed forces around the world.” MBDA’s air-to-air lineup includes the MICA family, ASRAAM, and Meteor.
Of these, the Meteor is the most notable and is regarded as one of the best, if not the best, Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile. The missile is particularly notable for its innovative propulsion that uses a solid fuel, variable flow, ducted rocket (aka ramjet) instead of a traditional rocket motor.
The exact ranges and capabilities are classified with estimates varying between 60 to 130 miles. Work is currently ongoing to integrate it into the UK’s F-35B fleets.
MBDA’s deep strike munitions include the Exocet family, the Martre family, and the Teseo/Otomat family. Perhaps the deep strike missiles made most famous by the war in Ukraine are the Storm Shadow/Scalp air-launched long-range missiles.
Ukraine has used Storm Shadow missiles to target various Russian assets, including a submarine in port. Another missile in the news is Germany’s Taurus, which Germany has debated for some time sending to Ukraine.
Due to the UK and France running their Storm Shadow/Scalp-EG missiles low by providing so many to Ukraine, MBDA is putting the missile back into production. According to Euromaiden Press, production is now ramping up from an initial 10 to 20 missiles a month and is expected to reach 50 a month by 2026.
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Developing everything from anti-tank missiles to
It is not possible to list all the many products MDBA produces, but these include air-to-air missiles, surface-to-air missiles, air defence systems (including SAMP/T with Thales), air-to-surface missiles, anti-ship missiles, and anti-tank missiles.
Initial Concept Review milestone successfully passed for HYDIS²!
— MBDA (@MBDAgroup) November 6, 2025
October 2025 marked a key step in the EU-co-funded project to develop European interceptors capable of neutralising hypersonic threats (speeds > Mach 5 and high manoeuvrability).
From 19 concepts… #HYDIS2 pic.twitter.com/o3IvjK8z1L
It is currently working on a range of cruise missiles, drones, and more. Naturally, it’s also branching into hypersonic technology. In 2023, MDBA announced it was in the early stages of developing a hypersonic defence interceptor.
One important missile it is developing is the ASN4G (Air-Sol Nucléaire de 4ème Génération) nuclear-armed, scramjet-powered, air-launched hypersonic cruise missile for the French nuclear forces.
ASN4G is expected to enter service from 2035 and eventually replace France’s existing ASMP missiles carried by France’s Rafale fighter jets. It is to have double the range of the ASMP.
MDBA launched many new programmes in 2025. But not everything needs to be high-end to be effective. For example, in 2025, MDBA announced the One Way Effector, which is a drone designed to be a nuisance, drawing enemy fire and exhausting hostile air defence systems. It is built with a large enough warhead to force enemies to expend resources engaging and destroying it.
Featured Image: MDBA
