European defence groups plan interceptor system to destroy missiles in space
Programme intended to plug gaps in air defence and will draw on lessons from war in Ukraine
A group of European missile manufacturers is developing what they say will be the continent’s first interceptor able to destroy medium-range ballistic missiles in space, as the region rushes to plug gaps in air defence.
The alliance will be led by Dutch aerospace start-up Destinus, and includes Airbus’ German-based defence and space arm, MBDA Deutschland, as well as France’s Safran and Thales.
The group, dubbed the Bliksem EXO consortium, said the system would be designed to detect, track and defeat ballistic missiles above the atmosphere.
The programme will draw on lessons learnt from Ukraine’s experience in countering air and missile attacks from Russia. Moscow’s use of the Oreshnik ballistic missile in Ukraine, which is considered very difficult to intercept, has underlined Europe’s vulnerability in detecting launches.
Shorter-range ballistic missiles typically follow trajectories that remain within the atmosphere, while longer-range ones spend part of their midcourse flight outside the atmosphere.
The new system is designed to intercept missiles through direct kinetic hit-to-kill impact rather than an explosive warhead.
Under a letter of intent signed on Tuesday, the companies said they planned to enter into a binding consortium agreement within three months, followed by a test in space in 2027.
Europe has “strong lower-layer missile defences but it still lacks a sovereign European upper layer against medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles,” said Mikhail Kokorich, Destinus chief executive.
The announcement of the industrial alliance follows Monday’s launch of the Integrated Anti-Ballistic Missile Coalition, a wider coalition of nations. Backed by Ukraine and nine other countries including Sweden, France, Germany and the UK, the coalition pledged to come up with joint missile defence systems.
Separately on Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron said France had agreed to let Ukraine produce certain missiles under licence for the first time. The move is part of a bid to help Kyiv boost its arsenal and fend off Russia’s ballistic missile attacks.
Ukraine will order four air defence systems known as SAMPT-NG — a next-generation rival to the US Patriot made by Franco-Italian Eurosam, which is backed by Thales and MBDA — and will produce the related Aster 30 interceptor missiles. To tide it over until deliveries starting in 2027, France will temporarily send two existing equivalents to Ukraine.
Ukraine will also produce SCALP cruise missiles and the AASM guided bombs, Macron said, and has ordered 16 Rafale fighter jets made by France’s Dassault Aviation, for delivery by 2028-2029.