“MBDA’s position as a prime weapon systems integrator in Europe, and the existing relationship between BAE Systems and MBDA, made this agreement a natural fit. As part of a global campaign, we anticipate this joint marketing effort will create a channel to meet the increasing demand from the European market for the APKWS rocket,” said David Harrold, Director of Precision Guidance Solutions at BAE Systems, Inc.
The APKWS system is a mid-body guidance section fitted between the motor and the warhead, transforming a standard unguided 70 mm (2.75 in) munition into a precision laser-guided rocket to provide warfighters with a low-cost surgical strike capability. This highly innovative approach requires no modifications to the rocket, launch platform, or fire control/launcher system and allows militaries to leverage existing infrastructure and munitions investment.
“The APKWS rocket offers our customers high precision at a low cost. The system is suitable for a wide range of rotary and fixed wing platforms and complements our existing portfolio,” said Paul Mead, Group Business Development Director at MBDA.
With a significant presence in five European countries and within the USA, in 2014 MBDA achieved a turnover of 2.4 billion Euros with an order book of 12.6 billion Euros. With 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 AIRBUS Group (37.5%), BAE SYSTEMS (37.5%), and FINMECCANICA (25%)
