MBDA, Europe's leading developer of complex missile systems, is deepening its strategic partnership with France's CEA-Leti to drive defense innovation amid intense global competition and geopolitical tensions. The collaboration, formalized in 2017 with a multi-year general agreement, focuses on leveraging CEA-Leti's expertise in critical areas such as materials science, thermal management, photonics, electronics, printed antennas, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence.

The partnership began with upstream research on exploratory concepts and has since expanded to cover a broad spectrum of joint projects, ranging from conceptual studies to the manufacturing of high-tech prototypes. A notable initiative involves the development of a very high-resolution optronic system using sovereign European technologies, a strategic move designed to circumvent U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) restrictions, which control the export of defense-related goods and services.

Supported by funding from both the French government and the European Union, the R&D efforts are now approaching a decade of collaboration. The work is dual-use, with some technologies also being evaluated for civilian applications. Current priorities include accelerating the maturation of these advanced solutions, integrating them into MBDA's missile systems, and preparing the groundwork for next-generation defense technologies.

MBDA is the European leader in complex missile systems and a key player in national sovereignty. To maintain this position in a tense geopolitical context and in highly competitive markets, the company has placed innovation at the heart of its strategy. It is with this in mind that it approached CEA's Technological Research Division, whose expertise in materials, thermal management, photonics, electronics, printed antennas, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence directly addresses its needs.

​The collaboration began with upstream research projects on exploratory concepts before expanding in scope. Building on these initial successes, the two partners formalized their relationship with a multi-year general collaboration agreement in 2017. This R&D work also benefits from the support of France and the European Union, and some of the technologies developed are also being considered for civilian applications.

Several joint projects cover a broad spectrum, from conceptual studies to the manufacturing of high-tech prototypes. The partners are notably developing a very high-resolution optronic system using sovereign technologies, thus avoiding ITAR* constraints.

As they approach ten years of their partnership, the two companies are continuing ongoing projects to accelerate the maturation of their solutions, integrate them into MBDA systems, and prepare for the next generations of technologies.

Note - ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) is a US regulation that controls the manufacture, sale and distribution of objects and services related to defense and space, as defined in theUSML (United States Munitions List)