Missile maker MBDA says it has expertise to make Patriot launchers in Germany

By Sabine Siebold

BERLIN (Reuters) -European missile maker MBDA could increase production capacity of Patriot air defence missiles at a new plant in Germany if orders cross "a certain threshold" and has the technical expertise to manufacture launchers for the system, the managing director of its German unit told Reuters.

Patriot, developed by U.S. defence company Raytheon, is among the most advanced air defence systems despite being in service since the 1980s.

Used by Ukraine against Russian missile and drone attacks, and sought by Western states building their military inventories as Russia presses on with its war in Ukraine, Patriot missiles and launchers have long been in short supply.

FIRST PATRIOT PRODUCTION PLANT IN EUROPE

In 2024, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain laid the foundation for the first Patriot production plant in Europe by signing a 5.1 billion euro ($5.98 billion) contract to purchase up to 1,000 missiles from a Raytheon-MBDA joint venture.

The missiles will be manufactured at a new facility in Bavaria in southern Germany whose construction will double the global production capacity for PAC 2 missiles, which are enhanced for the interception of tactical ballistic missiles.

"We are on schedule. We are planning to start production at the end of 2026, to ensure first delivery at the beginning of 2027," Thomas Gottschild, Managing Director of MBDA Deutschland, said in an interview.

He did not disclose the plant's production capacity, citing security concerns, but said it could handle additional orders.

"Should orders surpass a certain threshold, we are also ready to invest in additional production capacity," he said.

Asked whether MBDA might in the future build Patriot launchers, Gottschild said MBDA had the technical expertise, having previously managed launcher maintenance.

"We can do it. It is just a question of industrial cooperation between us and Raytheon — and the wishes of our customer Bundeswehr, or other clients requesting the production of launchers," he said.

DEEP PRECISION STRIKE MISSILE

Asked about MBDA's role in the development of a "deep precision strike" missile with a range beyond 2,000 km (1,242 miles) — a project announced by Britain and Germany in May - Gottschild said he anticipated the company would contribute to the effort alongside others. He gave no timeline for launching the development.

"Irrespective of the timeline, it is important that we start as soon as possible to get more concrete," he said.

The war in Ukraine has highlighted Europe's reliance on U.S.-made long-range missiles, prompting European initiatives to develop weapons capable of striking command posts and missile launchers far behind enemy lines.

MBDA is also driving development of smaller missiles to shoot down low and slow-flying drones such as the Russian drones that entered Polish airspace in mid-September.

"We hope to sign the development contract with the German government for the concept DefendAir missile by the end of the year," Gottschild said, with first deliveries expected in a few years.

The DefendAir missile with a range of over five km is based on MBDA technologies in use in products such as the Enforcer infantry system and intended to complement the 30 mm gun in Rheinmetall's Skyranger short-range air defence system.

($1 = 0.8522 euros)

(Reporting by Sabine Siebold, Editing by Timothy Heritage)