MBDA and Safran Electronics & Defence are joining forces in response to Australia’s Defence Industry Policy Statement to support the development of Australian sovereign industrial and strategic capability. The move comes in support of MBDA's offer to supply its MMP guided missile system to be mounted on vehicles purchased under the Australian Army's LAND 400 Phase 2 programme.

SAFRAN Electronics & Defense is a strategic partner of MBDA on a number of programmes, including the MMP missile system where it is responsible for critical optronics elements: dismounted firing posts, sensors, commands, and missile seekers.

This agreement will take advantage of Safran Electronics & Defense Australasia, a Safran Electronics & Defense subsidiary that has been operational for over twenty years in Australia, for delivery and support of optronics and navigation equipment.

MBDA has recently signed MMP-related agreements with two other Australian firms — Ferra Engineering and Cablex — in response to Canberra's call for increased Australian Industrial Capability (AIC) in defence projects.

MMP has been ordered by France for its infantry and combat reconnaissance vehicles (Scorpion programme). It will be fitted onto the French army’s new Jaguar combat vehicles along with Safran Electronics & Defense’s PASEO advanced sighting systems. Qualification of MMP was completed in July 2017, and deliveries have now started.

For the LAND 400 project, MBDA is in competition with Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, which is offering the Spike LR2 missile.