MBDA and ISL Extend Their Cooperation

June 27, 2011 defpro.com

On 24th June 2011 at the Le Bourget Air Show, MBDA and ISL (Franco-German research Institute of St. Louis) signed an international partnering agreement thereby extending the scope of the already existing cooperation between the two organizations. The aim of this agreement is to set up a common research framework between ISL, MBDA France and MBDA Germany.

This agreement sees the signing of two national contracts, a new contract between MBDA France and the ISL and the renewal of a previous contract signed in 2006 between MBDA Germany and the ISL.

These national contracts relate to the preparation of future technologies applicable to missiles and weapons systems in the areas of aerodynamics, optronics, navigation systems, future weapons systems and warheads. They define the structure of the cooperation with regard to information exchange, cooperative research, the development of prototypes for joint projects and the use of test facilities and the loan of equipment.

Welcoming the signing of this agreement, Antoine Bouvier, CEO of MBDA, declared: “ISL possesses a wide range of skills which will be very useful in the conception of our future missile systems. Equally, the agreement which we have signed today shows that Franco-German cooperation remains a major strategic objective for MBDA. This agreement will in due course allow us to present our customers with a missile system proposition that puts into operation not only the most efficient technologies but also prepares the way for future cooperative programmes, notably between France and Germany.

According to ISL Directors, Christian de Villemagne and Wolfgang Förster: “For several decades ISL’s expertise was primarily aimed at meeting the requirements of conventional ground combat weaponry. As a result of this agreement, our know-how will now go towards the missile sector. This rapprochement between ISL and MBDA France and Germany will result naturally in the stimulation of French and German strengths and of our respective organisations. It also contributes to the emergence of new areas of European cooperation”.

MBDA

With industrial facilities in four European countries and within the USA, in 2010 MBDA achieved a turnover of 2.8 billion euros with an order book of 10.8 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 BAE SYSTEMS (37.5%), EADS (37.5%) and FINMECCANICA (25%).

ISL

ISL (Franco-German research Institute of Saint-Louis) is a joint initiative of the French and German Ministries of Defence, benefiting from over 50 years of experience in serving the armed forces and global security.

ISL meets the needs of its customers through consistent R&T in the field of energy processing and transfer to:

• develop innovative ways of projecting energy by conventional means (energetic materials: explosives, powders, including nano-structures, projectile flight technologies) or alternative means (lasers, high-power microwave, electromagnetic acceleration ...),

• develop technology for the advance detection of energy projection (explosive detection, locating sighting devices, weapon launches etc.).

• develop technologies to protect personnel, assets and infrastructures against the effects of energy projections

ISL is at the heart of numerous European partnerships and holds the Carnot Label of Excellence.