MBDA, the European leader and global player within the missile systems sector, achieved a turnover of 2.8 billion euros in 2010. This represents an increase of 7% compared to 2009 (2.6 billion euros). Order intake reached 2.2 billion euros, down from 2009 (2.6 billion euros). Order book as of 31st December 2010 is 10.8 billion euros, representing 4 years of activity at current levels. Operational performance of the business remains strong, at more than 10% Return on Sales (ROS).
 
Commenting on these results, Antoine Bouvier, Chief Executive Officer of MBDA, said: “2010 was a year of mobilisation for MBDA. Mobilisation particularly with regard to Aster and the success it achieved in an ambitious firing programme which culminated in the first ever intercept of a ballistic missile by a European missile. Mobilisation also and most importantly in favour of a new partnering relationship between industry and government, sustaining sovereignty within the Complex Weapons sector in Europe. Both elements were brought into being by two major events: on one hand, the signing of a long term partnering arrangement with the UK MoD for the development and supply of new Complex Weapons; in addition, the final declaration voiced at the Franco-British summit in London which called for working ‘towards a single European prime contractor’ and for a deepened cooperation between the two countries with regard to new programmes aimed at consolidating the industrial and technology base within the Complex Weapons sector. A comparable level of orders on both sides of the Channel during the year is a clear indication of the converging and balanced priorities placed by the two countries with regard to the Complex Weapons sector.

2011 will be a key moment for MBDA. Thanks to the integration that has taken place within the Complex Weapons sector over the last 15 years, the 6 national companies that all competed with each other in 1996 have now become one single company. MBDA is now seen as the test case for initiatives in other industrial sectors in Europe.

By the time MBDA passes the milestone of its 10th anniversary on 18th December 2011, the model of European cooperation that the group has established will have been validated and will form the basis of the strategic plan towards our French and UK customers for the next decade. For MBDA this new dimension in cooperation is an explicit recognition by our domestic customers that the Complex Weapons sector is essential to their sovereignty in terms of defence and security of supply. We see this kind of partnership equally applying to Italy, Germany and eventually Spain”.

With industrial facilities in 4 European countries and the US, and more than 90 armed forces customers in the world, MBDA is a world leader in missiles and missile systems.

MBDA is the only 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). 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 held by BAE Systems (37,5%), EADS (37,5%) and Finmeccanica (25%).