MBDA expands its footprint in the United States of America »

By Jean-Michel Guhl
13 December 2011

The MBDA Viper Strike is a 3-foot long, unpowered glider missile. It can be launched from long distances using GPS-aided navigation and a laser seeker. Its size, precision and high agility help reduce casualties to nearby civilians but it's still suitable for urban warfare. The laser guidance also enables the missile to hit vehicles - moving or stationary - and small targets. © MBDA

Arlington, Virginia, 12 December 2011 — MBDA Inc., the wholly owned U.S. subsidiary of the European missile manufacturer MBDA, has purchased Northrop Grumman Corporation's Viper Strike munitions business, located in Huntsville, Alabama. The Viper Strike Business Unit facilities, located in town and on the nearby famous US 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.

A small size missile designed to be mainly carried by unmanned aircraft (UAVs or drones), Viper Strike is a low-collateral damage, precision guided weapon. This 44-lb, covert glide weapon allows US Army, USAF, Special Forces, and US 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. It can suit the needs of both manned and unmanned aircraft actually.

The Viper Strike purchase is MBDA Inc.'s first acquisition in the USA. Much in line with that company's existing partnership with the US Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD) in China Lake, California, where MBDA Inc. is already active in the production of semi-active laser-guided Zuni rockets (retrofitted with a WGU-58/B guidance and control system) for the US Marine Corps.

	Two MBDA Viper Strike munitions (in orange) are seen suspended under the wing of a US Marine Corps RQ-5 Hunter drone. Recently this unpowered glider missile has been chosen to arm the USMC KC-130J transport-tankers under the "Harvest HAWK" programme — for Hercules Airborne Weapons Kit — for combat time sensitive scenarios where precision is not a requisite, such as area denial, but where immediate action is required. © MBDA

For the industry analysts, it is said to be part of the company's growth strategy in the region. That strategy is based on a combination of acquisitions, organic growth, and partnerships with other US tier one contractors. The move will help position MBDA as a leading precision munitions firm in the USA and already gives the company a stronger capability in the growing market to create and produce new weapons for unmanned aerial systems. Senator Richard Shelby 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." In turn, 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's CEO, Antoine Bouvier stated, "This acquisition is a demonstration of our commitment to continue to grow in the US.

We are excited by the opportunity this production facility provides us to continue to design, build and deliver first-class missiles to US 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 US warfighter." This transaction is reported to have received all necessary US government regulatory approvals.

	Under "Harvest HAWK" (Hercules Airborne Weapons Kit) all the Lockheed Martine KC-130J Super Hercules of the US Marine Corps will be able to trade their outboard refuelling pods for a cluster of four MBDA Viper Strile munitions. Thus armed, a KC-130J will be able to deliver a total of eight Viper Strikes on specific ground targets. Viper Strike has been used in Afghanistan against identified time sensitive ground targets. © USMC

Source: MBDA

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