AQUILA Initiative: MBDA at the Helm of a European Coalition to Combat Hypersonic Menaces
The expansive air defense arena presents escalating challenges with rapidly evolving and intricate threats, including maneuvering ballistic missiles, hypersonic cruise missiles, and hypersonic glide vehicles. These contemporary threats necessitate targeted interception solutions to guarantee the effective safeguarding of national high-value assets and operational assignments in the forthcoming decades.
For over five years, MBDA has been focused on groundbreaking alternatives for countering hypersonic air defense, drawing upon our vast experience with the ASTER anti-missile interceptor and our in-depth understanding of threats. This initiative is known as the AQUILA project, offering the most advantageous counter-hypersonic interceptor concepts for European nations, together with a worldwide area defense portfolio encompassing other MBDA air defense solutions.
In March 2023, MBDA, in collaboration with its partners, was invited to propose a conceptual framework and technology enhancement study for an endo-atmospheric interceptor against emerging high-tier threats.
HYDIS² represents the HYpersonic Defence Interceptor Study spearheaded by MBDA, in conjunction with a consortium of 19 partners and over 30 subcontractors spanning 14 European nations.
The consortium comprises defense organizations, institutions, SMEs, mid-sized enterprises, and academic bodies, all boasting significant, recognized proficiency in the essential technologies and sectors necessary for this innovative interceptor study. This collaboration unites the finest expertise in missile technology from across the European Union, accompanied by top-tier aeronautical scientific references and actors in groundbreaking domains to tackle the counter-hypersonic challenge head-on.
Eric Béranger, CEO of MBDA, stated: “This initiative presents substantial European advantages, bolstering European resilience and technological independence by fostering cooperation and interoperability among EU member states. This initiative will also enhance the sovereign missile systems sector in Europe, by nurturing and advancing key expertise, technologies, and materials; thereby improving European industrial competitiveness. The advancements in the hypersonic domain are rapid, and MBDA prioritizes remaining at the cutting edge of innovation, steering Europe towards the most effective solutions to combat hypersonic threats.”
The aim of HYDIS² is to create diverse interceptor concepts and advance the associated critical technologies to provide the premier interception solution that addresses the needs of the four member states – France, Italy, Germany, and The Netherlands – and aligns with the European TWISTER capability initiative. This is a crucial component of European contributions to safeguarding its populations and armed forces, particularly against emerging hypersonic threats, which represent a fundamental shift from traditional ballistic threats.
France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands have already validated their backing and commitment by signing a Letter of Intent and reaching a consensus on Initial Common Requirements.
