MBDA has outlined a significant increase in missile production and investment as it responds to rising demand across Europe and beyond.
The European missile manufacturer said output doubled between 2023 and the end of 2025, with a further 40% increase in production planned for 2026. The expansion is being supported by a strengthened investment programme, with €5 billion earmarked for spending across Europe between 2026 and 2030.
Speaking at the company’s annual press conference, chief executive Eric Béranger pointed to sustained demand for advanced weapons systems and the need to scale industrial capacity accordingly.
He said: “MBDA’s continuous and successful industrial ramp-up is a major achievement for MBDA in 2025 and underscores the pressing realities we face. MBDA is now more essential than ever to Europe, serving as a key asset for the continent’s resilience and collective defense, offering to our armed forces the best means to protect what we hold dear: our freedoms, our democratic model, and our values.”
The company reported revenues of €5.8 billion for 2025, alongside an order intake of €13.2 billion and a backlog of €44.4 billion. MBDA stated that growth was driven by increased deliveries, the completion of major contracts, and wider adoption of systems intended to address evolving military threats.
As part of its expansion, MBDA plans to recruit around 2,800 additional staff in 2026. The company said the combined increase in production capacity and investment is intended to support European defence readiness and strengthen industrial resilience, particularly as governments seek to replenish stockpiles and respond to changing security demands.
Should European governments be looking at turning some industry over to war preparation? As we saw in the late 30s and early 40s, a massive transition to munitions. Obviously, I’m not suggesting anything on that scale, and I know the UK is looking at building munition factories, but as yet only words. A tangible sign of serious intent from Europe may act as a disincentive to Russia and its plans?
One hopes so. There are of course, other reasons beyond Russia, that require a resolve we seem to have lost since the end of the last century.
Good luck to Eric in trying to get any money out of the UK for STRATUS production.
Read other articles for his remarks on that missile during this speech.