Future Weapons Systems

Engaging with customers about their needs in future conflicts leads us to imagine the world of tomorrow, its products and product systems. Having a vision of what the future will be like is our daily activity at MBDA.

Future Systems Research and Technology

Future complex weapon systems are prepared using a progressive converging process. The process gradually transforms a set of operational needs, industrial strategies, ideas and technologies into a new solution that will provide operational value to a customer. We take the full environment into account, and discussions between our teams and our customers remain permanently open.

We look at all technologies and solutions that can potentially deliver operational value to our customer. To improve our complex weapon systems performance, we investigate technology, integration, concept of use and the economic model. We also explore all the ways that innovation can be incorporated into our systems: incremental improvement, pioneering solutions, and niches that could complement our product portfolio.
 

Future Weapon Systems

“We invest in innovation to ensure in the end our customers’ satisfaction,  our future growth and competitiveness, while improving sustainability and resilience for the company.”

Éric Béranger
MBDA’s Chief Executive Officer

Six Product Lines

Future weapon systems feed into the evolution of MBDA’s six product lines:

  • Deep Strike
  • Tactical Strike
  • Battlefield
  • Area Protection
  • Force Protection
  • Air Dominance

The Complex Weapons Innovation Technology Partnership (CW ITP)

One example of how we shape future weapon systems is this research fund. Open to all Anglo-French companies and academic institutions, it’s managed by MBDA and sponsored by the two countries’ defence authorities. The fund provides annual support to proposals from industry, SMEs and academia with the aim of developing novel, exploitable technologies for generation-after-next missile systems.

Example of Future Systems in the Battlefield: BLOS

Shooting Beyond Line Of Sight (BLOS) by combining the AKERON anti-tank missile with drones.

MBDA - BLOS

Example of Future Systems in Air Dominance: GUSD Algorithms

MBDA is building, together with the best-of-their-class Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missiles (BVRAAM), a comprehensive environment that will allow the pilot to make the best use of their performances. Through the Guidance in Uncertain Shooting Domain (GUSD) algorithms, the whole combat system of the plane, fully integrated with its missiles, is optimised.

MBDA - GUSD