Five European Firms Sign Deal to Develop Exo-Atmospheric Ballistic Missile Interceptor

Five European defense companies signed a letter of intent in Paris on Tuesday to create the Bliksem EXO consortium and develop the continent's first exo-atmospheric interceptor for medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles. Destinus leads the effort, with MBDA, Safran, Airbus and Thales as partners.

The companies said they intend to sign a binding agreement within three months and begin joint engineering work in August.

The interceptor will use kinetic hit-to-kill technology to destroy threats above the atmosphere without an explosive warhead. It is designed to detect, track and defeat MRBM and IRBM systems, including Russia's Oreshnik missile with separating and maneuvering re-entry vehicles. A test of the kill vehicle in space is scheduled for 2027.

Destinus will handle system integration and the exo-atmospheric kill vehicle. MBDA Deutschland will supply the booster, launcher and canister. Safran Electronics & Defense will provide the seeker and guidance, navigation and control.

Airbus Defence and Space will manage command-and-control and battle management. Thales will oversee the radar and sensor chain from early warning to fire control. The system is intended to complement existing lower-layer defenses and operate as part of a layered European missile defense architecture.

It will be built for interoperability with NATO's integrated air and missile defense and to strengthen the European Sky Shield Initiative by filling the missing upper layer. Design, testing and evaluation will incorporate lessons from Ukraine's experience countering massed air and missile attacks.

-operated Aegis Ashore sites using the SM-3 interceptor for exo-atmospheric defense, while Germany is acquiring Israel's Arrow-3 system.