MBDA signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Greek companies MILTECH and ALTUS as part of its “R&D Booster” initiative in Greece on 6 February 2024.
MBDA’s “R&D Booster” is a component of the strategic partnership agreement between France and Greece signed in 2021 and aims to develop long-term cooperation in Europe.
Together with MILTECH and ALTUS, MBDA will collaborate on projects to develop systems based on the AKERON MP missile.
The first stage of the partnership with MILTECH concerns the development of an AKERON MP launch kit, which MBDA is now offering on the global market as an option for light automatic turrets fitted with low-calibre guns.
By joining forces with ALTUS, under the second partnership agreement, MBDA is seeking to develop a range of tactical drones equipped with AKERON MP missiles. This co-operation will begin by validating the integration of AKERON MP missiles on ALTUS’s new ATLAS 8 HEAVY LIFTER UAV.
Eric Béranger, CEO of MBDA, said: “These two new partnership agreements, signed in the framework of the strategic partnership between France and Greece, aim at developing long-term activities with the Hellenic defence industry. They cement the long-lasting relationship that exists between MBDA and Greece. They also demonstrate MBDA's ability to foster, support and strengthen industrial co-operation in Europe, a value that is at the very core of MBDA’s DNA.”
These development projects complement existing cooperation initiatives in the fields of production, services and R&D. The aim of all of these projects and contracts is to strengthen ties between MBDA and the Hellenic Defence Industrial Base.
MBDA is a unique multi-national European group, a world-leader in the field of complex weapon systems, playing a key role in keeping nations safe. Created in the spirit of international co-operation, MBDA and its 14,000+ employees work together to support the national sovereignty of France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK, and their allies worldwide.
As an accelerator for innovation, 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).
Airbus (37.5%), BAE Systems (37.5%) and Leonardo (25%) jointly own MBDA.
MILTECH HELLAS S.A. is one of the leading Hellenic companies in the defence sector specializing in design and manufacture of high quality, cost effective electronic products for defence applications. The company has an extensive experience in Electro-optical Systems and Thermal imaging cameras. Its portfolio includes portable devices (uncooled thermal sights & monoculars, thermal binoculars) along with fixed surveillance systems (Thermal / Day cameras with integrated Laser Range Finder, GPS & Compass), for Land and Sea applications.
ALTUS LSA S.A. is a technology integrator providing turnkey solutions in the field of Unmanned Systems and innovative technology programs with worldwide service capabilities. The Company’s experience and expertise extends to land & maritime border surveillance, intelligence gathering, airborne ISR, environmental monitoring, natural disaster management, GIS applications, protection of critical infrastructure, SAR missions, and aerial target drone applications.
