XMobots, the number one drone company in Latin America, and MBDA, the largest missile company in Europe, have signed an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) to work together on the proof of concept for the integration of the ENFORCER missile into the Nauru 1000C RPAS.
The Nauru 1000C is the CAT 2 RPAS selected by the Brazilian Army for ISTAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance) missions, weighing 150kg.
The ENFORCER missile is a new-generation light guided weapon system, weighing around 7kg and providing the ability to defeat a wide variety of light and lightly armored targets, including fast-moving vehicles and protected targets.
According to Giovani Amianti, CEO of XMobots, in addition to proof-of-concept activities, the MoU also brings the opportunity for industrial cooperation and offset projects with Brazilian industry.
"XMobots has always stood out in the civilian drone market and for its ANAC (Brazilian CAA) certifications, becoming the only drone company with RPAS certified by ANAC to fly above 400 feet (approximately 122 meters) or BVLOS at a range of 30 km. The entry into the Defense market in 2019 was aimed at meeting the recurring demands of the South American Armed Forces. This partnership with MBDA consolidates our technological capacity, placing Brazil in a differentiated group of countries that develop and produce armed drones," explains Amianti.
"A relevant point is the fact that the ENFORCER is the first missile to be integrated into a Brazilian drone, which will result in a technological disruption in the low-cost armed drone market, since the Nauru 1000C and ENFORCER RPAS missiles are significantly smaller and lighter, and both are more cost-effective," says Amianti.
Patrick de La Revelière, MBDA's Vice President for Latin America, said: "We are delighted to formally establish our new relationship with XMobots. This MoU demonstrates once again our commitment to long-term partnerships with Brazilian industry. Through industrial cooperation, MBDA will continue to strengthen our ties with Brazilian organizations to create first-class technologies for the Brazilian Armed Forces, following previous successful technology transfer projects in Brazil. We look forward to working with XMobots, thus deepening our strategic relationship for the future."
MBDA is the only European defense group capable of designing and producing missiles and missile systems that meet the full range of current and future operational needs of the three Armed Forces (land, naval and air). MBDA is jointly owned by Airbus (37.5%), BAE Systems (37.5%) and Leonardo (25%), and currently supplies the Brazilian Armed Forces with Mistral short-range air defense missiles, all three versions of the Exocet anti-ship missile and the Sea Ceptor air defense systems, among others, in the Tamandaré-class frigate program. MBDA is also proud to offer world-class missiles such as Meteor, Brimstone and ASRAAM, among others, for combat aircraft.