HYDIS is getting closer to a European missile to fight hypersonic weapons

HYDIS has reached the next stage of work on a European capture missile designed to combat hypersonic and ballistic missiles. France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands have chosen one of the concepts analysed, which will be further developed by the consortium led by the MBDA.

Europe seeks answers to hypersonic weapons

We have not described HYDIS on our website yet. The completion of the next stage of work is therefore a good opportunity to approximate its assumptions and its importance for the future European missile defence.

The challenge to be addressed by this programme is one of the most serious problems of modern air defense. Hypersonic missiles move at a very high speed, can maneuver and alter the flight path, leaving little time to detect them, assess the threat and launch the interceptor missile.

The greatest powers in years have developed such weapons. This applies primarily to RussiaChina and the United States. A Europe that has long failed to run its own programme of this scale is trying to catch up today and build its own defence against hypersonic weapons.

One such undertaking is the European Hypersonic Defence Interceptor System (HYDIS). The program is intended to lead to the development of an interceptor missile that will be able to form part of land and ship-based missile defence systems.

One missile concept selected

The MBDA announced the completion of the final review of the concept in HYDIS. Of the two solutions selected at an earlier stage, France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands have chosen one that will be the basis for further work.

The current phase of the programme will last until May 2027. Until then, the consortium is to develop the design of the projectile, its drive, the control system and the way of targeting it.

Operation of missile and weapon system

In recent months, participants in the program have worked out the design of the projectile and tested its capabilities in simulations covering the entire flight. The ability to intercept the target and the size of the area that the future system will be able to cover was assessed.

The selected concept uses a solid fuel rocket engine for which the Italian AVIO is responsible. ArianeGroup and ROXEL are working on the missile control system at the end of the flight, while LYNRED is developing an infrared sensor for final targeting.

The results of the work were evaluated for six weeks by representatives of OCCAR and four participating countries. This stage ended the meeting of the Steering Committee on 10 July.

Missile for land and ship systems

The consortium is also working on incorporating a future missile into a complete missile defence system, including target detection and tracking devices, fire control and launchers.

Thales Nederland provided data on cooperation with ship and land observation systems. GKN Fokker, on the other hand, checks the possibility of placing the bullet in the vertical Mk 41 launcher.

This is important for the marine variant because the vertical Mk 41 missile launchers are used on many NATO warships, which could facilitate their use introduction of a new projectile existing units.

At this stage, however, it was not determined whether it would fit in the standard Mk 41 chamber without any structural changes.

HYDIS and competitive HYDEF

HYDIS is co-financed by the European Defence Fund and by France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands. Responsible for the management of the programme OCCARwhich has concluded an agreement with a consortium led by MBDA.

In parallel, the HYDEF programme, run by a competitive consortium involving Spanish industry and German Diehl Defence, is being developed. Both projects aim to develop a European next generation interceptor missile.

MBDA uses experience related to Aster family missiles. The HYDEF development team, on the other hand, refers to solutions used in IRIS-T family systems.

The proposal has not yet been decided which will be the basis of the future European defence against hypersonic weapons. The decision will depend on the results of the next stages of work.