Company / Counter-UAS
MBDA
European missile systems group whose German arm in Schrobenhausen develops guided missiles, loitering munitions and counter-drone effectors.
Le Plessis-Robinson, FranceCounter-UAS systems
About the company
About MBDA
MBDA is a European missile systems company headquartered in Le Plessis-Robinson near Paris. It was formed in December 2001 through the merger of Aérospatiale Matra Missiles, Matra BAe Dynamics and the missile division of Alenia Marconi Systems and is owned by Airbus (37.5 percent), BAE Systems (37.5 percent) and Leonardo (25 percent). The group employs around 13,000 people.
MBDA Deutschland GmbH, based in Schrobenhausen with further sites in Ulm and Aschau am Inn, employs about 1,200 people and is the leading missile house in Germany. Its portfolio includes the Taurus KEPD 350 cruise missile, the Enforcer lightweight missile, the PARS 3 LR anti-tank system, shares in Meteor and Patriot work, and the subsidiaries Bayern-Chemie (propulsion) and TDW (warheads).
In the unmanned domain the German unit works on counter-UAS solutions combining kinetic, laser and electronic effectors, has presented loitering munitions, and is responsible for the Remote Carriers in the Future Combat Air System. In 2025 Germany contracted MBDA to develop the DefendAir anti-drone missile for the Skyranger 30 air defence vehicle.
In the news7 stories
Unmanned surface vessels with effectors: Stark presents Vanta 12 with Minerva, Cascade and Sea Venom
Unmanned surface vessels for Europe's sea lanes: Stark has unveiled Vanta 12 – twelve metres long, 1,200 nautical miles of range, two tonnes of payload and already tested in a network at the NATO exercise “Repmus”. The platform is to be built in Flensburg.
Leonardo CEO: board of directors appoints Lorenzo Mariani to head the group
The new Leonardo CEO is Lorenzo Mariani, whose career has switched several times between the group and MBDA. At the same time, a “General Management” department is being created under Co-General Manager Gian Piero Cutillo.
Ground drones with air defence turret: Mangart 25 AD on MV-8 Komodo celebrates world premiere at SIDEC
In Slovenia, Valhalla Turrets and Dok-ing are showing a combat system from the ground drone class for the first time. The Mangart 25 AD turret on the MV-8 Komodo UGV engages air and ground targets; export options are being examined.
Loitering munition Harpax: MBDA Italia unveils new family for the Italian Army
Premiere at “Seafuture 2025”: MBDA Italia presents Harpax, a loitering munition for multi-domain operations. The Mini and Small variants were developed with Italian SMEs and had already been shown at “Volpe Bianca 2025”.
Drone start-up Hydra Drones: MBDA takes a minority stake
European defence group MBDA is investing a six-figure sum in British drone start-up Hydra Drones. Its heavy-lift transport drone, the Hydra 400, carries up to 400 kilograms, and a complete prototype is due later this year.
MBDA managing director Thomas Gottschild chairs BDI Security Committee
People and appointments: on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, the BDI has filled the chair of its Security Committee. Thomas Gottschild of MBDA Deutschland takes over and is to strengthen the defence industry's voice on the body.
Counter-UAS with Sky Warden: MBDA shows new effector based on DroneHunter at Farnborough
A warhead that can be quickly fitted to a drone in the field: for counter-UAS with Sky Warden, MBDA has developed an effector concept together with Fortem Technologies. In tests, the system neutralised all threats.