MBDA Deutschland GmbH and Roketsan have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a collaboration in manufacturing and integration of a 70mm guided weapon system.

Under the terms of the agreement signed at the ongoing ILA Berlin Air Show the two companies will initiate the exchange of business and technical information for a guided weapon system based on the 70mm rocket concept for the German UH Tiger. Both companies aim to provide a solution for an expected German Army requirement for this helicopter.

The MoU was signed by MBDA Deutschland GmbH Managing Director, Thomas Homberg and Roketsan CEO & President, Selcuk Yasar (photo).

Thomas Homberg said: “The already existing cooperation between Roketsan and MBDA will be extended by this focused initiative. We are combining our competencies to jointly providing this required capability to the German Armed Forces.”

Selcuk Yasar said: “We believe that with this cooperation we will be able to offer an enhanced weapon system to the German customer by bringing together the capabilities of Cirit, 2,75” Laser Guided Missile and MBDA Deutschland GmbH’s proven expertise on the platforms’ weapon management systems. We hope the result of this initiative will lead to a broader business cooperation between the two companies in the future.”

With a significant presence in five European countries and USA, 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 AIRBUS Group (37.5%), BAE SYSTEMS (37.5%), and FINMECCANICA 25%).

Incorporated in 1988 by Turkey’s Defense Industry Executive Committee (SSİK) in order to establish the nation's industrial base on rocket technology, Roketsan has quickly risen to become one of Turkey's top 500 industrial establishments.

Roketsan is best known for its vast range of unguided rockets as well as laser and infrared guided missiles such as CIRIT and UMTAS. The company also produces subsystems for Stinger and Rapier missiles and provides technology and engineering solutions for other integrated civilian and military platforms.