An unchallenged step forward for the Spanish Defence Industry
INDRA, MBDA, IZAR AND EADS-CASA ESTABLISH INMIZE, THE SPANISH MISSILE TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
Amsterdam, le 07 février 2002
INMIZE, the new Spanish company dedicated to missile technology, has been established after several months of intense negotiations within the framework of the European Defence Industry. The creation of such a missile company integrating the major companies in the Defence sector with experience and technology in this area, has long been an aspiration of the Spanish Ministry of Defence.
The main shareholders in INMIZE are: INDRA, the Spanish company for Information Technology (40%); the European missile systems company MBDA (40%), the Spanish shipbuilder and naval combat system provider IZAR (10%), integrated within Sepi, and EADS-CASA, the aerospace and defence systems company, integrated into the European group EADS (10%). INDRA and IZAR have joined their participation within INMIZE.
The main objective of the new company, the operational headquarters of which are located in INDRA's facilities, is to be Spain's centre of excellence in missile systems, for which it will benefit from its own technology. The first contract in which it will participate is in the design and development of the Meteor air superiority missile, which constitutes the weapon system for Eurofighter, Rafale and Gripen aircraft.
The Meteor programme is financed by the main European countries, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. The programme demonstrates a clear commitment from Ministries of Defence and Industry to generate alternatives to the American systems that could hinder the export of the aforementioned aircraft. According to official sources, the sale of over 2,500 units to the six domestic countries is foreseen, of which 10% will be destined to Spanish aircraft, with a price exceeding EUR 4 billion.
The creation of INMIZE represents an important step forward in guaranteeing this technology, as well as in supporting the Spanish Armed Forces. The new company, uniting Spanish technological capacities in the area, will also aim to participate in other European missile projects. This will provide Spain with an industrial capacity that will enable it to be fully involved with, on an autonomous basis, the development of new generation missile systems. The Company will be the Spanish industrial reference in the missile and guided weapons area, for Spanish as well as for international programmes, and at the European level, will develop a centre of excellence in sub-systems and missile parts. In addition, it will be responsible for promoting, marketing and selling MBDA products in Spain.
