European defense companies developing homegrown ballistic missile interceptor

Thales, Airbus, MBDA Deutschland, Safran, and aerospace startup Destinus signed a letter of intent in Paris to establish the independent Bliksem EXO Consortium. The partnership aims to develop a European exo-atmospheric interceptor, creating an independent solution for anti-missile air defense.

The announcement of the consortium followed the launch of the Integrated Anti-Ballistic ​Missile Coalition in Paris on July 14. Coalition members pledged to jointly ​develop a lower-cost alternative to the U.S.-made Patriot air defense system ‌as ⁠Ukraine struggles to counter intensified Russian ballistic missile attacks.

While shorter-range ballistic missiles typically follow trajectories that remain within the atmosphere or only briefly pass into near-space, those with ​longer ranges spend ​much of ⁠their midcourse flight outside the atmosphere.

Under the letter of intent, the companies plan to ​sign a binding consortium agreement within three ​months, begin ⁠joint engineering work in August, and carry out a test of the exo-atmospheric interceptor in space in 2027.

The consortium members noted that the agreement ​itself does not commit the parties ​to fund the project or procure the system.

Suspilne reported on July 11 that allies will separately discuss creating a European ballistic missile defense system involving Ukraine during a Coalition of the Willing meeting in Paris. Coalition members are considering strengthening Ukraine’s air defenses, expanding joint production of air defense systems, and leveraging Ukrainian combat experience to develop new defense capabilities.