European missile manufacturer MBDA is experiencing a surge in demand from Gulf nations seeking to bolster air defenses as Iranian strikes escalate in the region. The company's CEO, Eric Béranger, told the Financial Times that governments are urgently looking to enhance their existing capabilities while accelerating new procurement.

MBDA, jointly owned by Airbus, BAE Systems, and Leonardo, plans to increase overall missile production by 40 percent this year. This builds on a doubling of output since 2022, with the company making twice as many missiles last year compared to 2022. The surge reflects growing global demand driven by drone warfare and conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.

To meet this unprecedented demand, MBDA invested €1 billion last year in production without signed contracts—an unusual move for defense contractors. The company's order backlog reached a record €44 billion in 2024, with plans to spend €5 billion over five years to expand capacity. Revenue grew to €5.8 billion last year, up from €4.9 billion in 2023.