MBDA, the European leader and global player within the missile systems sector, achieved a turnover of 2.8 billion euros in 2010, an increase of seven per cent compared to 2009. Order intake reached 2.2 billion euros, down from 2009 (2.6 billion euros) and the order book as of December 31, 2010, is 10.8 billion euros. Operational performance of the business remains strong, at over 10 per cent return on sales.

Antoine Bouvier, Chief Executive Officer of MBDA, said, “2010 was a year of mobilisation for MBDA. Mobilisation particularly with regard to Aster and the success it achieved in an ambitious firing programme which culminated in the first ever intercept of a ballistic missile by a European missile.

“Year 2011 will be a key moment for MBDA. Thanks to the integration that has taken place within the Complex Weapons sector over the last 15 years, the six national companies that all competed with each other in 1996 have now become one single company. MBDA is now seen as the test case for initiatives in other industrial sectors in Europe.”