MBDA has signed an agreement with the Organization for Joint Armament Cooperation to provide research and development support for the $152 million Hypersonic Defense Interceptor System program.
The deal launches a three-year concept phase to explore and create an effective counter-hypersonic and anti-ballistic concept to address emerging and complex threats.
Under the agreement, MBDA will lead the OCCAR consortium of 19 industrial partners and over 20 subcontractors to consolidate weapon system requirements and select an interceptor that meets European countries’ needs.
The program participants will also advance the required technologies to implement the counter-hypersonic concept for the project’s next stage and establish an industrial network to develop future counter-hypersonic missile systems, MBDA said.
Co-funded by the European Defence Fund, HYDIS2 aims to develop an endo-atmospheric interceptor to neutralize the emerging threats posed by hypersonic cruise missiles and glide vehicles.
The program serves as the European states’ contribution to the mission of safeguarding the region’s military forces and civilian populations from potential hypersonic missile attacks.
The OCCAR consortium consists of major companies from Germany, Spain, France, Italy and the Netherlands.