MBDA and MILTECH have signed an R&D contract in the field of novel infrared stealth materials for military applications, in collaboration with the University of Patras. This contract falls under the co-operation programme associated with the FDI HN (Defence and Intervention Frigates for the Hellenic Navy), and supports European efforts towards independence in the defence industrial base.
Eric Béranger, CEO of MBDA, declared: “The contract that we’ve signed today with MILTECH is a perfect example of how we champion innovation and co-operation at MBDA. By moving forward in the research of deeply innovative and disruptive technologies we have also reinforced for the long term the historical partnership we have built with Greece”.
MBDA has supported the Greek Land, Marine and Air forces for over 25 years which has allowed the creation of many collaborations with Greek Defence companies, as well as the identification of particular competences in several advanced technologies.
This is the reason why MBDA started advanced negotiations with several companies (INTRACOM, AKMON, ELFON, TEMMA, DASYC, SSA, HAI and MEVACO) to set up industrial co-operation projects, including competency transfers, for the benefit of the Greek armed forces.
The purpose of these co-operation programmes, associated with contracts such as providing the FDI HN frigates with missile systems, is to directly embed selected Greek companies in MBDA’s supply chain. By doing so they can benefit from the opportunities that future international contracts represent in the long term.
MBDA is the only European group capable of designing and producing missiles and missile systems that correspond to the full range of current and future operational needs of the three armed forces (land, sea and air). With a significant presence in five European countries and within the USA, in 2021 MBDA achieved revenue of 4.2 billion euro with an order book of 17.8 billion euro. In total, the group offers a range of 45 missile systems and countermeasures products already in operational service and more than 15 others currently in development.
MBDA is jointly owned by Airbus (37.5%), BAE Systems (37.5%), and Leonardo (25%).
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.
The University of Patras is the third largest higher education organization in Greece. The Department of Materials Science was established in 1999 performing high quality research and education in the areas of micro/nanophase, molecular, hybrid, and BioPhase materials and related technologies. It has been highly marked by the independent Hellenic Quality Assurance and Accreditation Agency (HQAA) as a unit of Academic Excellence offering an internationally Certified Programme of Studies. The Photonics Nanotechnology Research Laboratory-K22 (PNRL-K22), is active in the field of nanostructured photonic materials and their applications. The team focuses on computer generated diffractive, holographic and nanophotonic structures for photonic sensors, novel imaging and information optics.
