European Weapons Leader MBDA Expands its Footprint in the United States

(L-R) Charlie Kettle, chair of the Chamber’s Board of Directors, presents a plaque commemorating MBDA’s announcement, to Jerry Agee, CEO of MBDA, Inc.

MBDA Inc., the wholly owned U.S. subsidiary of missile manufacturer MBDA, has purchased Northrop Grumman Corporation’s Viper Strike munitions business, located in Huntsville and announced its intentions to grow in Huntsville.

MBDA, a world leader in missiles and missile systems, is a multi-national group with over 10,000 employees in France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany and the United States. MBDA has three major aeronautical and defense shareholders – U.K.-BAE Systems (37.5%), Netherlands-based EADS (37.5%) and Italian-based Finmeccanica (25%), and is the first truly integrated European defense company.

The Viper Strike Business Unit facilities, located in Huntsville and on the U.S. Army’s Redstone Arsenal, will allow MBDA to design, build and assemble complete precision-guided weapons in one location, as well as bring in new business to the MBDA-Huntsville facilities.

Jerry Agee, CEO of MBDA Inc. said, “Acquiring the combat proven Viper Strike weapon system and facility allows us to take an important step in our strategy to research, design and produce the world’s finest weapons that meet the current and future needs of U.S. armed forces. The Viper Strike line is a perfect addition to our portfolio and allows us entrée into the fast growing armed UAS business segment.”

MBDA Inc. now owns two design, development, and manufacturing locations: the Huntsville Viper Strike operating unit, and its original Westlake Village, Calif., operating unit.

U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) of Alabama said, “I am pleased that MBDA will be joining the robust and growing Huntsville defense community. Viper Strike weapons have been a key asset for our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, and I am proud that they will continue to be produced in Alabama. MBDA’s plan to grow the business going forward represents a strong vote of confidence in the Alabama workforce and is great news for the local economy.”

Charlie Kettle, chair of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County Board of Directors, thanked the company for choosing Huntsville as its first-ever American acquisition.

“Today we are here for an economic development announcement of international proportion. We are all very excited that MBDA has chosen this business unit in Huntsville as its first American acquisition,” Kettle said.

Viper Strike is a low-collateral damage, precision guided weapon designed for both manned and unmanned aircraft. This 44-pound, covert glide weapon allows U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, Special Forces and U.S. Marine Corps aircraft to precisely engage targets in urban and complex terrain environments. It combines a GPS Inertial Navigation System and a Semi-Active Laser seeker to provide maximum operational flexibility.

MBDA’s CEO, Antoine Bouvier stated, “This acquisition is a demonstration of our commitment to continue to grow in the U.S. We are excited by the opportunity this production facility provides us to continue to design, build and deliver first-class missiles to U.S. armed forces. We now have over 60 missile systems fielded, in production, or in development and equip over 90 armed forces around the world. We can leverage the economies of scale of this wide customer base and product line to provide excellent missile systems, like Viper Strike, to the U.S. warfighter.”