Several European companies said they would jointly develop a system to intercept medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles, moving to strengthen the continent's defenses against potential aerial threats.
Destinus, MBDA, Safran, Airbus and Thales said they had signed a letter of intent to establish a consortium for the development of the Bliksem EXO system to strike down ballistic missiles, which can travel at hypersonic speeds above the atmosphere. The companies said they planned to enter into a binding agreement within three months.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine injected renewed impetus for European nations to spend more on defense and shield their borders from potential threats, especially from the skies: Missiles and drones that Moscow regularly fires at Ukraine have at times crossed into the airspace of North Atlantic Treaty Organization member states.
Earlier this year, Russia launched its nuclear-capable hypersonic Oreshnik missile against Ukraine. The companies in the consortium said the Bliksem EXO interceptor would also work against Oreshnik-class systems.
Under the plans, the companies said they would look at Ukraine's experience in countering mass aerial attacks during the design, testing and evaluation phases of the system, which will be able to detect, track and neutralize medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles in the midcourse phase above the atmosphere.
Destinus, which specializes in strike and air-defense systems, will lead the consortium and bear responsibility for the kill vehicle, the component that destroys ballistic missiles in space. MBDA Deutschland, the German division of a joint venture between Airbus, BAE Systems and Leonardo, will provide the interceptor booster, launcher and canister. Safran Electronics & Defense will supply the kill-vehicle seeker, while Airbus Defence and Space and Thales will look after command, control and radar systems.
The companies said the new system would complement programs like NATO's Integrated Air and Missile Defence and the European Sky Shield Initiative by adding an upper layer of protection.
"Europe has strong lower-layer missile defenses, but it still lacks a sovereign European upper layer against medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles. Bliksem EXO is designed to close that gap through direct hit-to-kill interception above the atmosphere," Mikhail Kokorich, chief executive of Destinus, said.
Engineering works are expected to start in August. The companies said they plan to test the kill vehicle in space next year.
Write to Mauro Orru at mauro.orru@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
July 14, 2026 11:49 ET (15:49 GMT)
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