Roxel France

What Roxel France does

Roxel France is a Franco-British designer, manufacturer, and supplier of tactical propulsion systems, operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of MBDA since December 2024. The company develops solid rocket motors, pyromechanisms, gas generators, and specialised energetic and inert materials for tactical and cruise weapon systems, serving missile, rocket, and tactical systems prime contractors globally. Its motors power flagship European missile programs including EXOCET, ASTER, MICA, MILAN, ASRAAM, RBS15, CAMM, Brimstone, and Akeron MP. The group operates five sites — Saint-Médard-en-Jalles, La Ferté Saint-Aubin, Bourges, and Le Plessis-Robinson in France, plus Summerfield in the United Kingdom — employing approximately 1,100 people, with a reported revenue of €200 million in 2024 guided to €300 million by 2026.

The company's technology base covers the full propulsion lifecycle: design, propellant formulation (composite, cast double base, extruded double base, solventless), motor case flowforming, thermal protection, liners and inhibitors, igniter design, integration, static firing testing, and disposal. Roxel claims world leadership in Insensitive Munitions (IM) technology for minimum smoke propellants, and holds ISO 9001:2015, EN 9100:2018, ISO 14001:2015, and ISO 50001:2018 certifications. Capital-intensive assets include static firing test ranges, the Wyre Forest test facility in the UK, and large centrifuge capability.

The business model is direct B2B hardware sales to prime defense contractors, with revenue generated through negotiated long-term contracts on fielded missile programs and new system development. Distribution is enterprise field sales, supported by memberships in BAAS, GIFAS, GICAT, GICAN, IMEMG, and Aerospace Valley. Customers are concentrated among a small set of European missile primes — most prominently MBDA as both parent and largest customer — and pricing is not publicly disclosed. Roxel explicitly frames its contribution as supporting the sovereignty goals of its partner nations.

Name

Roxel France

Legal name

Roxel Group

Website

https://roxelgroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Roxel France is a Franco-British defense propulsion manufacturer, wholly-owned by MBDA since 2024, producing solid rocket motors, pyromechanisms, and gas generators for tactical and cruise missile programs serving global prime contractors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Le Plessis-robinson

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tactical Propulsion Systems Sales: Revenue generated from developing, manufacturing and marketing all types of motors for tactical and cruise weapons systems. Sales to missile, rocket and tactical systems manufacturers for use in new systems or enhancement of existing propulsion performance.
2. Pyromechanisms and Gas Generators: Design and supply of pyromechanisms, gas generators and standardised range of motors for the decoy, target and drone systems market.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Roxel France develops, manufactures, and markets solid rocket motors and tactical propulsion systems for missiles, rockets, and tactical weapons used by defense forces worldwide. The company supplies prime contractors with propulsion solutions for new systems and for performance enhancement of existing systems, and also designs pyromechanisms, gas generators, and motors for decoy, target, and drone systems. Its core competence includes specialised materials development and world-leading Insensitive Munitions (IM) technology for minimum smoke propellants.

Product overview

Roxel is a Franco-British company and European leader in tactical propulsion systems, developing, manufacturing, and marketing all types of motors for tactical and cruise weapons systems. The portfolio includes solid rocket motors for missiles across all categories (air-to-air, surface-to-air, artillery, anti-ship, anti-tank, air-to-surface, cruise missiles, guided bombs), pyromechanisms, gas generators, and standardised motors for decoy, target, and drone systems. The company supplies major missile programs including EXOCET, ASTER, MAGIC, MICA, MILAN, ASRAAM, RBS15, CAMM, Brimstone, and Akeron MP. Roxel is known for expertise in specialised materials including structures, thermal protection, and energetic/inert materials, and is the world leader in Insensitive Munitions (IM) technology for minimum smoke propellants. The company operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of MBDA with approximately 1,100 employees and projected revenues of €300 million in 2026.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tactical Propulsion Systems (Solid Rocket Motors)
• Pyromechanisms
• Gas Generators
• Decoy, Target and Drone Motors
• Specialised Materials for Propulsion Systems

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Nammo: Nordic defense group producing rocket motors, ammunition and tactical propulsion — a direct European peer competing in similar missile motor and energetic materials markets.
• Diehl Defence: German defense manufacturer producing guided missiles, ammunition and related propulsion/energetic components — a direct European peer in tactical missile systems and motor technology.
• Bayern-Chemie (TDW): German propulsion specialist producing rocket motors, warheads and pyrotechnics for tactical missiles; a direct competitor in European tactical propulsion.
• Aerojet Rocketdyne (L3Harris Technologies): US-based leader in solid and liquid rocket propulsion for tactical missiles, strategic weapons and space launch — directly comparable in core solid rocket motor technology for defense missile programs.

Regional players

• Tactical Missiles Corporation (KTRV): Russian state-owned designer of tactical missile systems including propulsion — a regional player in the same product category, not competing in Western markets but a comparable technology benchmark.

Emerging players

• Roketsan: Turkish defense company designing and producing rocket motors, missiles and propulsion systems — an emerging regional propulsion player with overlapping solid rocket motor capabilities.
• Rafael Advanced Defense Systems: Israeli defense company developing missile systems and energetic/propulsion technologies — an emerging international peer with overlapping tactical missile propulsion capabilities.
• Hanwha Aerospace: South Korean propulsion and defense manufacturer producing solid rocket motors and tactical missile components — an emerging global peer benefiting from allied missile procurement.

Broad incumbents

• Avio Aero: GE Aerospace subsidiary producing propulsion systems including solid rocket motors for space launch and tactical applications — a broader incumbent in aerospace propulsion with solid motor capabilities.
• Safran: French aerospace group with significant propulsion activities (aircraft engines, solid propulsion via subsidiaries); previously Roxel's 50% JV partner and now an adjacent incumbent in defense propulsion.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/roxelfrance

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Roxel France