MBDA has challenged the initial interpretation of a weapons seizure at Italy’s port of Bari, saying the Akeron anti-tank missiles found in a French-registered van were inert test items rather than live rounds. Italian investigators found three missiles and related military equipment after the vehicle arrived by ferry from Patras, Greece, and detained 46-year-old French national Regis Normand while they examine transport documents and possible permit breaches.
Judicial documents cited in Italian and French reporting describe one empty container, one inert training missile without guidance, propulsion or a warhead, and three further Akeron missiles in the van. Investigators also say the items were disguised as NATO training materiel, with blue bands applied over original yellow-and-black markings. MBDA’s account directly disputes the early implication that operational missiles were being smuggled or moved improperly, and it said the haulier had previously worked with the company.
The case carries wider relevance for defence logistics and export-control compliance around Western missile systems used by European customers. The exact status of the three missiles remains under investigation in Bari, where prosecutors are still reconciling the technical findings with MBDA’s explanation.