UK and France pool missile research

The

and

have launched a multi-million pound Innovation and Technology Partnership (ITP) focused on materials and components for missiles.

The ITP contributes to the UK's Defence Technology Centre concept, and will be jointly funded by the British and French governments and an industry and academic consortium led by arms company MBDA. The UK MoD will provide £2.5m per year funding and DGA, the French Armament Procurement Agency, £2.65m. The initiative said it expects industry to match the combined total of the Government funding. The ITP will initially run for 3 years, extendable to 5 years.

The ITP aims to consolidate a future European guided weapon capability by building the technological base and allowing a better understanding of common future needs, and prepare for future cooperative programmes.

The ITP has been set up to fulfil joint research needs of UK and France for missile technology, identifying common capability and technology needs and examining emerging technologies for future equipment. The collaboration also aims to provide more effective access to innovation from Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Universities, and forge better links between industry and government.