At last week’s Le Bourget Air Show, MBDA and ISL (Franco-German research Institute of St. Louis) signed an international partnering agreement thereby extending the scope of the already existing cooperation between the two organizations.

The aim of this agreement is to set up a common research framework between ISL, MBDA France and MBDA Germany.

This agreement sees the signing of two national contracts, a new contract between MBDA France and ISL, and the renewal of a previous contract signed in 2006 between MBDA Germany and ISL.

These national contracts relate to the preparation of future technologies applicable to missiles and weapons systems in the areas of aerodynamics, optronics, navigation systems, future weapons systems and warheads. They define the structure of the cooperation with regard to information exchange, cooperative research, the development of prototypes for joint projects and the use of test facilities and the loan of equipment.

Welcoming the signing of this agreement, Antoine Bouvier, CEO of MBDA, declared: “ISL possesses a wide range of skills which will be very useful in the conception of our future missile systems. Equally, the agreement which we have signed today shows that Franco-German cooperation remains a major strategic objective for MBDA. This agreement will in due course allow us to present our customers with a missile system proposition that puts into operation not only the most efficient technologies but also prepares the way for future cooperative programmes, notably between France and Germany”.

According to ISL Directors, Christian de Villemagne and Wolfgang Förster: “For several decades ISL’s expertise was primarily aimed at meeting the requirements of conventional ground combat weaponry. As a result of this agreement, our know-how will now go towards the missile sector. This rapprochement between ISL and MBDA France and Germany will result naturally in the stimulation of French and German strengths and of our respective organisations. It also contributes to the emergence of new areas of European cooperation”