To update wider Europe’s missile defenses against developing new Russian threats, German and Spanish missile manufacturers plan to jointly build a hypersonic missile interceptor.
The so-called endo-atmospheric interceptor, which aims to cover threats from 2035 and beyond, will be developed as part of the European Hypersonic Defense Interceptor (EU HYDEF) project.
The EU is expected to provide about $100 million toward the project’s estimated cost of US$110 million throughout its 36-month duration.
The program’s objective, according to Defense News, is to develop a countermeasure that can eventually be incorporated into air defense systems already in place and be capable of early warning, tracking, and interception of present and future airborne threats, such as ballistic and hypersonic missiles.
According to the same article, Sener Aerospacial Sociedad Anonima in Spain will oversee the project’s coordination while Diehl Defense in Germany would take the technical lead.
The close collaboration between the two defense corporations is highlighted by their work on the IRIS-T surface-to-air missile system.
According to the same report, Diehl will be in charge of the engineering and design of the interceptor system, upstage design and system simulation, upstage guidance, navigation, and control, as well as seeker head and signal electronics.
Sener will also oversee work on communications, actuators, and aerodynamic control systems, as well as guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) systems.
The project, according to a statement from Sener, “will result in the concept, risk reduction, and demonstration of an effective endo-atmospheric interceptor capable of operating at different flight levels, which will include an innovative aerodynamic control system for high maneuverability, very agile guiding concepts, and advanced sensor and search systems.”
It further stated that 13 businesses and organizations from seven different European countries—Spain, Germany, Belgium, Norway, Czech Republic, Poland, and Sweden—will be a part of the EU HYDEF project.
Sener added that the EU HYDEF project is linked to the Timely Warning and Interception with Space-based TheatER Surveillance (TWISTER) project of the French-led Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO), which aims to create a comprehensive system to defend against hypersonic threats through space-based surveillance.
When Russia launched a Kinzhal air-launched hypersonic missile at a Ukrainian subterranean weapons storage facility in March, it made history as the first country to utilize hypersonic weapons in battle.
In an Article for The Strategist … >>> Continue at Asia Times
