MBDA to develop HYDIS2 interceptor to protect Europe from hypersonic missiles that can manoeuvre at speeds in excess of 6174km/h

MBDA is leading a consortium of companies that are joining forces to develop a prototype hypersonic interceptor. The announcement was made during the Paris Air Show.

Here's What We Know

MBDA has signed a contract with four countries: France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands. The consortium included 19 companies and 30 suppliers from 14 European countries. This was announced by Bruno Verzotti, MBDA Director of Future Systems.

The programme is called the Hypersonic Defense Interceptor Study (HYDIS2). It will eventually propose several projects from which one will be chosen for implementation. In addition to France, Germany, the Netherlands and Italy, companies from Finland, Estonia, Sweden, Denmark, Romania, Hungary, Croatia, Austria, Spain and Belgium are participating in HYDIS2.

The project will last for three years. Bruno Verzotti noted that MBDA has been working on hypersonic technology for four years. Inside the company, the project is called Aquila, which is Latin for "eagle".

HYDIS2 will be linked to the European Spaceborne Early Warning and Interception Project. Funding will come from the EU's ongoing defence and security cooperation programme.

It is worth noting that the EU already has a project to develop a hypersonic weapon interceptor missile. It is called HYDEF and is estimated at more than $100 million. Also keep in mind that the Israeli company Rafale recently announced the Sky Sonic interceptor, which will target the European market.

Source: Defense News, Breaking Defense