I was genuinely excited to learn of MBDA's work on a new bunker-busting warhead technology for France and the UK this week, but was as quickly taken aback when I saw what they have called it.
Fair enough, the 'hard and deeply buried target next-generation multiple warhead system' hardly trips off the tongue, but was "Hardbut" a wise selection for the abbreviated version?
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/10/15/348497/mbda-reveals-work-on-hardbut-bunker-buster.html
I've always found MBDA to be tremendously reserved, and at times reluctant to talk about its programmes. So I can only guess that this one stems from some schoolboy humour within the DE&S, or less likely the DGA.