Reuter’s news agency stated that Germany will delay signing contract with MBDA for air defence shield. Country’s defence ministry told lawmakers it would not complete a contract with MBDA during the current legislative period.
Ministry officials remain committed to concluding a contract with MBDA for the Medium Extended Air Defence System (MEADS) to replace the Patriot air and missile defence system but said there was still work to do on the MBDA proposal. 
The delay in the MEADS project marks another setback for Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen, who has sought to reform Germany's troubled weapons procurement process since taking office in late 2013. Germany selected MEADS in 2015 to replace its Patriot system but it has taken far longer than expected to move forward.
MEADS was developed by MBDA, which is owned by Airbus Group (AIR.PA), Britain's BAE Systems Plc (BAES.L) and Italy's Leonardo Finmeccanica SpA (LDOF.MI), in a joint venture with U.S. arms maker Lockheed Martin Corp. (LMT.N).