MBDA to Partner with French Carmaker to Produce 1,000 Missiles a Month

European missile maker MBDA has signed a partnership deal with a major French automaker to scale up and accelerate the production of a new class of missiles.

The announcement was made by MBDA CEO Eric Béranger on Sunday, June 15, as reported by Le Journal du Dimanche.

Béranger said the collaboration aims to mass-produce a new long-range weapon, dubbed the One Way Effector, which is designed to penetrate enemy defenses.

Little is currently known about the One Way Effector, a system set to be officially unveiled at the Paris Air Show 2025, which begins on June 16.

According to MBDA, the weapon is being developed through an innovative production model involving a drone manufacturer and civilian industrial players, notably from the automotive sector. The One Way Effector is described as a cost-effective solution that balances scale, performance and affordability—tailored to meet the demands of high-intensity warfare.

MBDA plans to produce up to 1,000 of these missiles per month, and potentially more if required. By comparison, the company currently manufactures about 40 Mistral man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS) monthly.

“It has the potential for mass production, something not traditionally seen in the missile industry before the war in Ukraine,” Béranger said. “Today, the ability to rapidly meet increased demand is critical.”

Asked whether the car industry might assist MBDA with other projects, Béranger said the immediate focus is on ramping up production of the One Way Effector. However, he did not rule out expanding cooperation once the partnership is established.

France’s defense sector has been under pressure to increase output since the start of the full-scale war in Ukraine, which exposed its limited ability to scale up weapons manufacturing.

As early as February 2025, France’s Ministry of Defense began exploring ways to involve civilian industries in defense production, particularly those capable of delivering high-volume output.

One automotive company has already been tapped to help manufacture loitering munitions similar to those used in Ukraine.

In early June, it was revealed that a major French automaker — later identified as Renault — agreed to set up drone production lines in Ukraine to serve both the Ukrainian and French armed forces. At the initial stage, the plan involves partnering with French small and medium-sized defense firms, followed by the launch of production directly on Ukrainian soil.