Europe’s Hydis programme selects design for future hypersonic missile interceptor

Hydis programme developing a European interceptor against hypersonic threats has selected a concept based on a solid-propellant rocket motor, marking a key milestone in the continent's efforts to strengthen missile defence capabilities.

The programme's steering committee approved the final concept review on Friday, validating what project partners described as the most promising interceptor design, according to Defence News.

According to Europe's Organisation for Joint Armament Co-Operation (OCCAR), the next phase of the programme will focus on maturing critical technologies to at least Technology Readiness Level 3, corresponding to experimental proof of concept.

Hydis is one of two European initiatives competing to develop an endo-atmospheric interceptor capable of countering hypersonic weapons. The rival Hydef programme, led by Germany's Diehl Defence and coordinated by Spain's SMS Sistemas de Misiles de España, is also seeking funding under the European Defence Fund (EDF), which plans to allocate €100 million ($114 million) to a single project under its 2026 work programme.

The interceptor is being designed to engage hypersonic glide vehicles, hypersonic cruise missiles and manoeuvring ballistic missiles. Its concept was evaluated against threat models developed by Italy's Centro Italiano di Ricerca Aerospaziale, France's Onera and the Netherlands' TNO research institute.

OCCAR said the final concept review concentrated on the terminal phase of interception by the kill vehicle, providing a clear path for further technology development.

The Hydis industrial consortium brings together several major European defence companies. Avio is responsible for the solid rocket motor architecture, ArianeGroup and MBDA subsidiary Roxel are developing the interceptor's final-stage control mechanism, while Lynred is supplying the terminal infrared sensor. MBDA is overseeing overall system integration.

Additional contributors include Thales, which is providing performance data for naval and ground-based sensor suites, and GKN Fokker, which is working on integration with the Mk 41 vertical launch system.

The three-year Hydis programme has received €80 million from the European Defence Fund, with France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands contributing approximately €60 million in additional funding. MBDA has received the largest share of EDF funding, with more than €60 million allocated across its participating entities.

Hydis and Hydef are both linked to the wider Twister initiative, a European project aimed at developing an integrated system to detect, track and intercept hypersonic threats using space-based early warning capabilities and endo-atmospheric interceptors.

By Aghakazim Guliyev