In the 2016, MBDA recorded orders for 4,7 billion euros, reaching - for the fourth consecutive year - at a level significantly higher than the revenues which amounted to 3 billion. The order book continued to grow, reaching 15,9 billion at 31 December 2016, thus ensuring excellent prospects for the next five years.
Domestic orders, which have reached the exceptional level of 3,2 billion, allow MBDA to significantly increase its product portfolio. The United Kingdom, for example, has signed a contract for the development phase of the SPEAR missile that will guarantee the F-35 Lightning II an unparalleled ability to attack accurately at a safe distance. In addition, the ASRAAM / CAMM anti-aircraft missile family has secured contracts for integration on F-35 fighters and Type 26 frigates.
In France and Italy instead, the Aster family will significantly increase its capabilities against new maneuvering ballistic missiles, thanks to the B1NT version of the Aster 30 missile. The Franco-British program for the SCALP / Storm Shadow cruise missile, in service from the 2003, will be subject to modernization (within the 2020) which will prolong its operational life. Finally, France has announced the ASMPA half-life modernization program, in order to maintain its reliability, availability and operational performance.
2016 export orders, amounting to 1,5 billion, include equipment and missiles for Rafale 36 fighters purchased from India in September. The important contracts signed with Qatar for the supply of the MCDS coastal defense systems and the armament systems of the new ships that the country has purchased from Fincantieri will be accounted for in the 2017.
To adequately support these solid growth prospects, MBDA plans to continue the hiring plan also in 2017. The increase in hiring began in 2013, with the entry of approximately 600 employees per year in 2013, 2014 and 2015, to increase to 1.000 in 2016, up to 1.100 planned for this year across all MBDA countries.
As for the domestic markets, last year saw the further growth of Franco-British collaboration with the ratification of an intergovernmental agreement aimed at facilitating intra-company trade between these two countries and at the same time allowing MBDA to optimize its industrial organization. This type of agreement is considered the first of its kind in the world.
In addition, the Executive Committee of MBDA has chosen to include MBDA Deutschland within the integrated scope of the Group, with effect from 1, January 2017 This is to respond to the request for greater collaboration in European programs and the strengthening of the European Defense Industrial and Technological Base (BITD-E), expressed in Germany's 2016 White Paper on the security and future of German defense. The new organization will make it possible to strengthen the collaboration between the teams, for the mutual benefit of MBDA Deutschland and the rest of the Group. In full compliance with national regulations on defense and security, all MBDA will therefore be able to better support the technical challenges of the German TLVS program, aimed at providing the army with an advanced defense capability against air and ballistic threats.
Finally, with regard to the export markets, MBDA has continued to grow in the countries of its main customers, signing agreements with the Polish, Indian and Emirate industry, in order to strengthen its presence on the spot and, at the same time, favor its entry into its industrial base.
Antoine Bouvier, CEO of MBDA, said: "2016 was a key year. Today's successes are the foundation for MBDA's tomorrow: a group with a younger workforce, a smoother organization across its countries. and prospects supported by an order book that has reached the highest level ever recorded since the birth of MBDA. A company capable of building ever stronger relationships, both with export countries and with domestic ones and that, year after year, it is increasing its critical mass to continue to ensure its European customers access to sovereign technologies capable of guaranteeing them military superiority ".
(photo: MBDA, launch of an anti-ship missile in the opening phase) Mars)
