Missiles are the premier weapon of modern warfare. According to consulting firm Polaris Market Research, global sales of rockets and missiles are expected to increase from $58.3 billion in 2021 to $73.8 billion in 2026, growing at a cumulative annual rate of 4.8 percent.

Among the world’s leading manufacturers of missiles is MBDA. Headquartered in Le Plessis-Robinson, France, MBDA is jointly owned by Airbus, BAE Systems and Leonardo. The company employs some 14,000 people in six countries. In 2021, the company reported orders worth 5.1 billion euros and a backlog of 17.8 billion euros.