MBDA in the UK, Excellence at your side

The ground-breaking UK Ministry of Defence (MOD)/MBDA Portfolio has been in place for over 10 years, evolving, and transforming where necessary. It originated in response to a need to retain capability within UK industry to design, develop, assemble and upgrade Complex Weapon Systems, ensuring Operational Advantage and Freedom of Action. This joint Portfolio approach continues to demonstrate savings to the UK MOD and UK taxpayer, deliver optimal military capability for UK armed forces, be adaptable to changing requirements and secure high technology skills in the Complex Weapon Systems Sector whilst enabling operational independence.

MBDA is the only European group capable of designing and manufacturing complex weapons to meet the full range of current and future operational requirements of the three armed forces (land, sea and air).

MBDA's excellence lies in our mastery of technology and our in-depth knowledge of current and future threats. This asset, recognised around the world, allows us to design the most reliable solutions. On the battlefield, this quality becomes a certainty: when our armies press the button, they are ensured that it will work and produce the desired effect, in the expected way, at the right time.

In the UK, MBDA’s history dates back to the 1940s, when the first missiles entered service in the UK armed forces. Some remarkable programmes preceded the systems currently in service with the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. Today, we have cutting edge capability like ASRAAM, CAMM, Storm Shadow and Brimstone helping front line troops protect the UK and its interests.

To fulfil this mission, MBDA relies on two pillars:

• Sovereignty. Because we exist to protect nations and their citizens, we must produce and supply the necessary military capabilities to the armed forces, for them to accomplish their mission at any given time, whichever situation they are confronted with.
• Cooperation. Because there is strength in numbers, our international teams are working hand in hand to innovate, develop and produce decisive capabilities. It is only by cooperating that we can protect sovereign defence for all our nations on a European scale.

Not just a strategic partner to the UK MoD, MBDA is also a founding member of the UK’s Defence Growth Partnership (DGP), a collaboration between the UK Defence Industry and the UK Government fostering a thriving UK Defence Sector. Encouraging new and innovative ways of working, the DGP is helping to improve the growth of UK defence exports.

Signatories to the Armed Forces Corporate Covenant since 2013, we’ve a longstanding commitment to, and support for, the armed forces. We also continue to hold a Gold Award for the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, and have done since 2018.

We are also is a signatory of the Women in Defence Charter, promoting gender balance across the defence industry. The company is working hard to achieve the Charter’s gender balance target of 30% by 2030, leading a concerted effort to make the sector a better place for women and men, and ultimately, improving the output of defence.