PARIS, Nov. 16 (UPI) -- Construction of a facility in France for the demilitarization of missiles and munitions has officially begun with the laying of its cornerstone.
MBDA reported the site is located at Bourges Subdray and that the facility will become operational at the end of next year, at which time it will be be capable of dismantling more than 2,500 tons of munitions each year.
Waste products from the dismantling process will be sorted, re-used or recycled in full accordance with French and European standards, MBDA said.
"In championing Europe's missile sector and as a world leader, MBDA is committed to creating firm and lasting partnerships with its domestic and export customers," said Antoine Bouvier, MBDA's chief executive officer. "These customers are not only looking for guaranteed security of supply and support for their equipment, they are also recognizing more and more the need to ensure the necessary safe treatment of their complex weapons at the end of their service life.
"With this new industrial installation we are showing our desire to further reinforce the partner relationship that we have with our military customers."
The facility is the result of 2011 contract to MBDA from the NATO Supply Procurement Agency -- at the request of the French Ministry of Defense, which seeks to destroy more than 36,000 complex munitions by 2017
