Non-Subscriber Extract
Paris Air Show: MBDA prepares for renewed push in US market
By Guy Anderson
18 June 2009
European missile systems house MBDA is gearing up once again for a push into the United States market, with an eye on partnerships with US-based tier two contractors and acquisitions to increase its local footprint.
The announcement came as MBDA revealed the appointment of former Northrop Grumman mission systems president Jerry Agee as president and chief executive of MBDA Inc, and follows the European group's previous "disappointing" attempts to crack the world's largest market.
The group is also looking to exports to offset an anticipated decline in domestic sales between 2009 and 2014. MBDA reported a 10 per cent sales decline for 2009.
The US contributed sales of approximately USD50 million to MBDA's USD3.63 billion revenues in 2008: just 1.3 per cent. MBDA Inc employs 100 of the group's global workforce of 10,000.
A spokesman for MBDA said the group "confirms its commitment to serving [the] US customer by meeting the war-fighter requirements with proven and innovative missile systems capabilities".
Acquisitions of US ventures to increase its local footprint are among the options open to MBDA, the spokesman added.