The NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency (NAMSA) earlier this month awarded MBDA a contract to destroy 36,000 complex munitions. The value of the work was not revealed.
Under the contract, MBDA will set up within two years in France a facility to process classified munitions in accordance with the strict regulations that apply to defense safety, namely operational reliability and respect for the environment, the company said in a statement.
In particular, before 2017, MBDA will be responsible for the disposal of more than 1,000 missiles, 22,000 M26 rockets–formerly deployed in Multi Launch Rocket Systems or MLRSs–each containing 644 sub-munitions, and 13,000 155-mm grenade shells, each containing 63 sub-munitions–thus more than 15 million sub-munitions.
The munition processing plant will be installed at MBDA’s Bourges Subdray site in central France. This activity represents an investment of around $15.9 million and should create about 20 direct jobs.
To win the contract and establish a high added value facility in France, MBDA has brought together the best skills available on the market–with ESPLODENTI SABINO and AID in Italy, and NAMMO in Norway.
MBDA’s Chief Executive Officer Antoine Bouvier said: “The demilitarization of complex weapons has become a new strategic activity for MBDA. This fits in perfectly with our determination to establish close and sustainable partnerships with our domestic and export customers. These customers not only require guaranteed availability and sustained support for their equipment, but also that we ensure the safe end of life disposal of their complex weapons as well.”
MBDA is held by BAE Systems (37.5 percent), European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. (EADS) (37.5 percent) and Finmeccanica (25 percent).