MBDA Missile Production Boost To Meet Demand
EUROPEAN missile maker MBDA said it expected to increase its overall output by 40% in 2026, with production certain air defence missiles set to rise even further. CEO Eric Beranger said the company has spent US$1.15 billion on production without signed contracts to fill stocks and keep pace with soaring demand. The decision to scale up and accelerate production is driven by financial performance: in 2025, the company’s revenue reached US$5.8b.
He emphasised that successful industrial expansion allows the company to remain a strategic asset for Europe’s security and resilience in the face of global threats, adding that MBDA had shifted from waiting for orders before beginning production to building up stocks of its most sought-after weapons in advance, especially in air defence.
“The Iran crisis is… again increasing the need for ramp up for acceleration and of course, further work is underway in organisation to evaluate further possibilities,” he had told reporters while presenting annual results in late March. New orders totaled US$15.51b, and the total order backlog grew to US$52.16b. To meet demand, MBDA has already doubled missile production between 2023 and the end of 2025. However, a further 40% increase in production volume is planned for 2026.
To achieve these goals, the company is doubling its investments: between 2026 and 2030, it will invest US$5.874b in production facilities across Europe. He said in 2025, the volume of Aster missile deliveries exceeded the company’s initial plans by five times.
Missiles For SEA
In Southeast Asia, it was reported that MBDA is positioning itself as a critical partner for Medium-Range Air Defence (MERAD) as regional militaries, particularly Malaysia and Indonesia, move toward multi-layered, networked defence architectures. The market in 2026 is characterised by a shift from point defence to high-altitude, long-range intercept capabilities to counter emerging threats like drones and cruise missiles. Indonesia is actively integrating VL MICA onto its Bung Tomo-class corvettes and has shown interest in further long-range strike capabilities, such as the SCALP (Storm Shadow) cruise missile.
MBDA continues to deepen ties with Singapore’s Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA), focusing on advanced Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) capabilities like the Sky Warden system. In Thailand, the group provides ongoing support for the Royal Thai Armed Forces’ lorry-mounted VL MICA systems while promoting the Meteor missile for its new batch of Gripen fighters.
The MBDA group is among the major defence companies taking part at the Defence Services Asia and National Security Asia 2026 (DSA & NATSEC Asia) exhibition in Kuala Lumpur.