French Minister of Armed Forces Visits MBDA's Matra Electronique Center in Venette
On January 9, 2026, Catherine Vautrin, the French Minister of Armed Forces and Veterans, visited the Matra Electronique Electronics Center of Excellence in Venette, Hauts-de-France. The visit included local officials and military representatives.
The MEL 4.0 production site, opened in 2024, employs over 600 people and plans to hire an additional 150 by 2026-27, alongside expanding its facilities by 6,000m2. The site focuses on enhancing production efficiency and meeting the growing demands of the Defense sector. The Minister emphasized the strategic need to protect and develop France's industrial and technological base, coinciding with MBDA's efforts to strengthen European Defense capacities, supported by a workforce of 20,000 dedicated to innovation.
