MBDA, the European leader in complex weapon systems, and its subsidiary Matra Electronique (MEL), a specialist in high-precision electronic equipment, have officially inaugurated their new 4.0 factory in the heart of the Hauts-de-France industrial region. The new facility in Venette marks a significant milestone in the company’s growth strategy and plays a pivotal role in both strengthening France’s defence capabilities and supporting the local economy. MEL’s 440 employees will now work at this expanded site, which significantly boosts production capacity.
With the opening of this facility, MEL has increased its weekly electronic component transfer capacity by 2.5 times, from 200,000 to 500,000 components. This expansion supports MBDA’s rapid ramp-up of defence production capabilities both in France and across Europe, ensuring the company can meet the needs of future defence programs.
MBDA CEO Eric Béranger spoke at the inauguration, stating, “The women and men of Matra Electronique have an essential role in the MBDA Group’s mission. Together, we are creating a sustainable, innovative, high value-added industrial model to meet the challenges of sovereignty in France, in Europe and among our allies. With this new production facility, we are pursuing our commitment to the ‘war economy’: immediate acceleration of production capacity, development and aggregation of industrial skills in France, and the ability to accelerate even further in the months and years to come.”
Frédéric Wilmot, Chairman of Matra Electronique and Industrial Director of MBDA France, added, “Combining the skills and technologies we depend on to guarantee our sovereignty in electronics, our new site sits at the heart of a dynamic, forward-looking local ecosystem that contributes to the resilience of our supply chain and developing our activities. It also enables us to maintain cutting-edge expertise and essential jobs in our local areas.”
The new connected and modular 4.0 factory increases the site area by one-third, allowing for future expansions and rapid adaptation to changing customer needs. Designed for flexibility and competitiveness, the factory will also provide employees with modern workspaces and help minimize environmental impact. As part of a dynamic ecosystem of industrial and local players, the new site is poised to strengthen the entire industrial value chain.
This project, supported by the ‘France Relance’ program, underscores MBDA and MEL’s shared commitment to developing sovereign solutions at the highest technological levels. It also reflects their ambition to meet tomorrow’s challenges and contribute to the strategic goals of France and Europe.
