Deputy prime minister Oliver Dowden has praised MBDA's contribution to keeping Britain "safe and secure" at their site in Stevenage.
Speaking during a recent visit to the site with Alex Clarkson, Conservative parliamentary candidate for Stevenage, Mr Dowden said: "I thought it was a fantastic visit and it's brilliant what they're doing here.
"First of all, the jobs and the apprenticeships and the opportunities, but also in this dangerous and insecure world it's facilities like this, the sovereign capability we have here, which helps to keep Britain safe and secure."
Mr Clarkson also praised MBDA's "impressive facility", which produces the Storm Shadow missiles that have been "used so effectively in Ukraine".
"It's been incredible seeing just how important Stevenage is, not just for the UK's defence, but for jobs as well.
"Thanks to the government there's so much investment here, so much with apprenticeships.
He said: "The visit provided us with a fantastic insight into the crucial role Stevenage plays in keeping our country safe.
"It has a rich heritage going back decades for both defence research and defence manufacturing, and the town is now literally home to the Brimstone and Storm Shadow missiles.
"We were privileged to witness first hand how these missiles are designed, built, tested and maintained on site."
Last month, Labour's parliamentary candidate for Stevenage, Kevin Bonavia, visited MBDA with shadow armed forces minister Luke Pollard.
Mr Pollard praised Stevenage's "vital and unique" contribution to UK defence, while Mr Bonavia told the Comet that he is "proud" of Stevenage's "strong history at the very heart of our country's defence design and manufacturing".
The major parties have been engaged in a war of words on defence spending, with defence secretary Grant Shapps recently claiming that jobs in Stevenage could be at risk if Labour win the general election.
He said that, unlike the Conservatives, Labour are "unfortunately not committed to [spending] 2.5 per cent of our GDP on defence, that means that they say they'll do 2 per cent - that means £7bn off defence - that means job cuts, and that could be coming to Stevenage".
Defence spending has not yet reached the 2.5 per cent mark, with Mr Shapps saying that it will be reached "as soon as possible".
Mr Bonavia said: "After 14 years of Conservative government cuts, our armed forces are at their smallest size since the war against Napoleon over 200 years ago.
"Now with an election around the corner, the Conservatives are saying they will increase the defence budget to 2.5 per cent of GDP.
"Labour is committed to our national security and is determined to meet the target of 2.5 per cent, but we will not make an empty promise without being able to fund it."
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