12:11 GMT, May 20, 2008 MBDA France and Sagem Défense Sécurité signed a cooperation agreement on May 14 concerning the modular air-to-ground weapon (AASM) and infrared guidance for tactical missiles.

The agreement was signed by Antoine Bouvier, Chief Executive Officer of MBDA, and Jean-Lin Fournereaux, Chairman and CEO of Sagem Défense Sécurité. Also present at the signing ceremony was Jean-Paul Herteman, Chief Executive Officer of the SAFRAN Group.

Under the terms of the agreement, MBDA France will be responsible for all sales and marketing of the AASM family developed by Sagem Défense Sécurité. The two companies will also combine their respective areas of expertise to form a close partnership for the joint development of future versions of the AASM family.

The AASM is an all-weather precision weapon, comprising a guidance kit and a range extension kit that can be added to standard warheads. It is made in two versions. The version with inertial guidance and GPS, offering “10-meter” accuracy, is already deployed by the French air force in foreign operations. A “1-meter” version, including an infrared seeker, is now being qualified. French armed forces have already ordered 700 AASM systems, including both versions.

The AASM family will join MBDA France’s range of tactical weapons for aircraft, allowing the AASM family to be included in any comprehensive offers aimed at meeting the requirements of air forces worldwide.

MBDA France and Sagem Défense Sécurité also agreed to leverage the commercial and technical synergies associated with their respective positions to propose highly competitive solutions to air forces around the world.

For infrared guided missiles, this agreement extends a collaboration between MATRA and SAT that started more than 50 years ago, and was consolidated in 1987 with the creation of the ADISM consortium. This consortium developed the infrared seekers for the MAGIC, MISTRAL and MICA IR missiles.

Through this latest cooperation agreement, MBDA France and Sagem Défense Sécurité continue to offer world-class solutions for tomorrow’s French and European missiles.