HITTING ON TARGET

摘要

Since its formation in 2002, missile manufacturer MBDA has become a leading player in the European defence industry. KEITH HAYWARD looks at the company and its competitors. Genuine transnational missile companies are a rarity in the defence world. Positive examples that spring to mind are MBDA and Thales. But, given that Thales' involvement in missiles represents only a very small percentage of its ?10.3bn consolidated group turnover, that leaves just MBDA, making its achievement in creating just such a transnational missile systems company even more noteworthy. In little more than three years since its formation in January 2002, MBDA has become by far the dominant player in Europe's missile industry. But the politics of European defence is still handicapping the most efficient and effective development of this sector.