01 April 2021

MBDA reports slight downturn in 2020 annual results

by Charles Forrester

Pan-European weapons system manufacturer MBDA revealed on 31 March that the company had received orders valued at EUR3.3 billion (USD3.87 billion) in 2020, while recording revenues of EUR3.6 billion.

The company’s orderbook backlog also declined from a decade-high of EUR17.5 billion in 2019 to EUR16.6 billion in 2020.

MBDA has, according to CEO Eric Béranger, started a “busy” 2021 following on from significant orders in 2020 within Europe. These included a weapons package for Greece’s fleet of Dassault Rafale aircraft, a production order for the SPEAR missile for the UK’s Royal Air Force and an upgrade for the Brimstone 3 missile, an Aster mid-life refurbishment for France and the commissioning of the development of the new MHT combat missile for the Tiger helicopter, Italy winning a contract for the new Teseo MK2/E anti-ship missile, and the contract (with Rheinmetall as co-contractor) for a new high-energy laser demonstrator for German Navy.

MBDA reported declining revenues and orders in 2020. (MBDA/Janes)

Key export orders included a naval weapons package for a foreign undisclosed customer and a naval weapons package for Senegal. The company reported a 50/50 split between home and export orders for the year.

Commenting on the wider global outlook, Béranger said that the Covid-19 pandemic is “constraining and disturbing a lot of operations around the world”, but noted that global tensions are not diminishing.

Béranger added that the company had been working closely with its supply chain during the pandemic, “making sure we were supporting those who faced the harshest difficulties”.

Pan-European weapons system manufacturer MBDA revealed on 31 March that the company had received ord...

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