If there is one defense group that benefits from the war economy with Nexter, a favorite of Emmanuel Macron and his Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu, it is the MBDA. The Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) announced on Thursday that it ordered a batch of 1,300 Akeron MP (MMP) missiles from a European missile manufacturer on November 23 and a batch of 329 Mistral 3 missiles on December 20, totaling more than 300 million euros. The Ministry of the Armed Forces, which has committed around 700 million euros for Mistral and 410.9 million for Akeron MP during the period 2023-2024, recorded 218.8 million euros in payment appropriations (129.9 million and 88.9 million for Mistral). for Akron MP) in 2024.
Increased delivery and acceleration
The Akron MP program benefits from the decision to expect orders in 2023, which is part of the war economy approach. Thus, the quantity of MMP ammunition delivered during each annual batch from 2023 has been increased. The final target for the Akeron MP, which was 1,950 missiles under the 2019-2025 military programming law, has apparently increased to a target of about 3,000.
Delivery acceleration as part of low-level surface-air defense is also relevant to the Mistral 3. The Ministry of Armed Forces plans to rapidly replenish stocks of Mistral ammunition, which has been refurbished and modernized ground-to-air defense (DSA) capabilities for the benefit of the Army, Air Force and National Navy. Thus, the Mistral system will renew the short-range Crotel component of the Air Force, and form the DSA component for the Army to support and protect it in its operations. Finally, it should allow for self-defense of second-rate ships of the national navy.
Mistral, a multi-mission missile
The order for 329 Mistral 3 missiles is part of a letter of intent signed by France, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia and Hungary in June 2023 for the joint acquisition of anti-aircraft defense systems. It is a very short-range surface-to-air missile that operates in a “fire and fire” mode. Its speed and maneuverability make it suitable for all types of targets: fighters, transport planes, helicopters, drones, cruise missiles, stealth warfare. “With a length of less than two meters and a weight of less than 20 kg, it is easily maneuverable and resistant”, assures Ministry of Armed Forces. With missiles and droppable firing stations, they can also be transported on the backs of men or installed on the platform of the VLRA Pamela (Arquus). It also equips Tiger combat helicopters (capable of carrying four missiles per machine).
The order, which follows the first contract for 100 missiles signed at the end of 2022, will benefit the main industrial sites contributing to the production of the Mistral missile: MBDA (Sales-Saint-Denis, Bourges), Safran (Saint-Benoit), Roxel (Saint -Médard-en-Jalles, Le Subdray), Junghans T2M (La Ferté-Saint-Aubin), ASB Aerospatiale Batteries (Bourges), Matra electronique (La Croix Saint-Ouen), Nexter Munitions (La Chapelle Saint-Aubin) (Ursin) . Delivery of the first batch is expected this year, almost ten years after the last batch (in November 2015).
Akeron: First delivery late 2025
After that in late 2022 (200 units), an order for 1,300 Akron MP missiles (MMP) will result in delivery of the first batch of 200 missiles from late 2025. Akeron MP missile makes it possible to neutralize targets. (latest generation armored vehicles, light boats or infrastructure), day and night, up to a minimum distance of 4 km, whether stationary or mobile. According to the Ministry, “This combat-proven missile is versatile due to its multi-effect charge. It also guarantees metric precision. Through its optical fiber and its image processing, it keeps “man in the loop”. A shooter can change his course at any time”.
The order will benefit several French industrial sites contributing to the production of the Acheron MP missile: MBDA (Sales-Saint-Denis, Bourges), Safran (Saint-Benoit), Roxelle (Saint-Medard-en-Jalles, Le Subdre), Junghans T2M (La Ferté-Saint-Aubin), ASB Aerospatiale Batteries (Bourges), Matra electronique (La Croix-Saint-Ouen) and Nexans (Donchery).
